Taking time off work...

[queenrobot]

My company allows us to have two "floating holidays" at work in addition to the standard holidays we are closed for (i.e. Christmas, 4th of July).
In our company handbook, it list the "floating holidays" you can use like President's Day or Columbus Day. It also lists "Jewish Holidays"

The company handbook seriously just reads "Jewish Holidays" There is no list of which ones are acceptable, nor does it state whether you have to be Jewish to take them.

I was going to request a Jewish Holiday off, but it caused all kinds of controversy at work because I am not Jewish. My coworker's don't think its "fair".

Has anyone else had this experience?

*This is not meant to be a discussion about religion. This is a question about working within the rules of your company and exploiting them for personal gain.*


**UPDATE**
Just spoke with the owner of the company and he informed me that he doesn't care what religion you are in order to take any "floating holidays" He stated that this will work for any Jewish holiday, it just has to actually fall on the day you take off. I guess it was mainly my supervisor who had the problem with it.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

[loup garou]

Tell them you are interested in converting and wanted to check out the benefits before committing.

Or, tell them you are planning on celebrating/observing the holiday with Jewish friends.

Or, tell them mind your own business.

 

[tw1164]

I've never had to use my floating holidays on a real holiday, I could use them anytime.

 

[Phoenix86]

Why are they upset? They are getting the same benefit (on another day of the calendar).

 

[MikeyLSU]

yeah, everywhere I have been a floating holiday was just another vacation day to use whenever you want.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Questioning your religious devotion will get them sued quickly.

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Questioning your religious devotion will get them sued quickly.

My thoughts exactly. I have a feeling this is going to cause the company handbook to be revised.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Isn't the whole point of a floating holiday that you can use them whenever you want? What does it matter if it happens to fall on a Jewish holiday?

My friend had a great job. He worked for a religious tolerance center. He got 103 holidays a year.

 

[mugs]

I'm with the other people in this thread - I haven't worked for a company where you had to take your floating holidays on actual holidays.

Be that as it may, the rules at your company are clearly different. I would wonder why anyone else would care that you're taking off on a Jewish holiday rather than a non-Jewish holiday. Why does it matter to them when you use your days off? Are these people coworkers or bosses? On the other hand I think the intention of the rule was clearly to allow taking off holidays that are part of your OWN religion, so it will make you look bad to try to get around that.

You could just tell your boss that in your own religion, the Feast of Maximum Occupancy falls on the same day as whatever Jewish holiday you want to take off.

 

[bigrash]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Questioning your religious devotion will get them sued quickly.

My thoughts exactly. I have a feeling this is going to cause the company handbook to be revised.

Yeah, but was it just your coworkers saying that it was weird, or was it actually your manager/HR saying that you couldn't take a floating holiday on that day? Big difference between the two.

edit: I also have the same deal with my company. We have 8 core holidays and 2 floating days that we can take on certain holidays that we're open or birthdays. None of my previous jobs were like this.

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: bigrash

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Questioning your religious devotion will get them sued quickly.

My thoughts exactly. I have a feeling this is going to cause the company handbook to be revised.

Yeah, but was it just your coworkers saying that it was weird, or was it actually your manager/HR saying that you couldn't take a floating holiday on that day? Big difference between the two.

It was my coworkers and my direct supervisor, who also acts as HR. The owner of the company has not responded.

 

[sdifox]

Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

It sounds like it doesn't. He wants to take a couple days off, apparently he's only allowed to use the floating days on selected days throughout the year, Jewish passover is coming up this month (I'm assuming these are the days OP is talking about).

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: sdifox
Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

It matters to me because the time I wanted to take off falls on a Jewish holiday.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

So they give you floating holidays, but only if you're religious? What if you're an atheist/agnostic? Very few "holidays" in those belief systems. Do they give you Darwin's birthday off or something?

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
So they give you floating holidays, but only if you're religious? What if you're an atheist/agnostic? Very few "holidays" in those belief systems. Do they give you Darwin's birthday off or something?

Then they probably get Columbus Day, MLK Jr, President's Day, Veteran's Day, etc.....yeah it's stupid, which is why companies offering floating holidays shouldn't dictate when they get used.

 

[JulesMaximus]

What do they care? It's a floating holiday...by definition you can use it on any day of the year you want.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: sdifox
Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

It matters to me because the time I wanted to take off falls on a Jewish holiday.

so you have to use it on one of the approved dates and the jewish holiday is an approved date no?

 

[queenrobot]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: sdifox
Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

It matters to me because the time I wanted to take off falls on a Jewish holiday.

so you have to use it on one of the approved dates and the jewish holiday is an approved date no?

Well, my company doesn't specify what Jewish holidays are acceptable. I am wanting to take Jewish Passover which starts on April 19th.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
What do they care? It's a floating holiday...by definition you can use it on any day of the year you want.

I guess you didn't read the second sentence of the OP...

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: sdifox
Explain to my why it matters to you whether it is Jewish holiday or not?

It matters to me because the time I wanted to take off falls on a Jewish holiday.

so you have to use it on one of the approved dates and the jewish holiday is an approved date no?

Well, my company doesn't specify what Jewish holidays are acceptable. I am wanting to take Jewish Passover which starts on April 19th.

I am still not getting what the problem is... ask them if it is ok? Explain to your coworkers you are using a discretionary day.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: bigrash

Originally posted by: queenrobot

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim
Questioning your religious devotion will get them sued quickly.

My thoughts exactly. I have a feeling this is going to cause the company handbook to be revised.

Yeah, but was it just your coworkers saying that it was weird, or was it actually your manager/HR saying that you couldn't take a floating holiday on that day? Big difference between the two.

It was my coworkers and my direct supervisor, who also acts as HR. The owner of the company has not responded.

How big is this company? Do you have a employee handbook/written writing of the "rule"? If so post it.

<- HR... but for Fed Gov