The question is, I am supposed to be off on holiday next week, but this would leave the firm short staffed. I however have three children and it is the Easter holidays. While I could get my mum to look after them, I am loathe to do so as I have promised them we will do things. Also, the girl who is absent is meant to be off on holiday the second week of the school holidays and I don't want to ask her if she is still going to have her holidays. What should I do?
2007-03-28 00:53:52 · 19 answers · asked by Ally 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Carry on with your life and do what you have planned!
I hate to sound selfish, but as a PA to a Director in Investment, in my experience, anything you go out of your way to do, to help others, is rarely remembered (especially at appraisal time and at salary reviews), AND all you need to do is screw up on one little stupid thing (like forget to pass on a message once b/c you were too busy covering for everyone else!), and THAT my dear, is what they will remember you for, regardless.... trust me on this one.
You can still be helpful whilst in the office, but don't bend on your holidays - no career is worth that, and I've found the more successful one is, the more that THEY themselves wouldn't move their holidays for anything! - so why should you?
You can also be helpful by suggesting....
"Would you like me to try and find a temp for the company whilst I'm away? as sadly my time off includes commitments which required advance booking and whilst I'd like to help, I'm afraid I cannot afford to lose the full advance payment on my holiday. Sorry. " (all said with a sweet smile)
So, smile, help, but don't exhaust yourself honey. I'm afraid this is the sad reality of the corporate world (they don't really scratch your back if you scratch theirs).
2007-03-28 01:25:32 · answer #1 · answered by sassyzen 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If your holiday has already been approved and you have already planned things with your children you should just quietly take your holiday. If you are looking to solve this forthcomming problem then fine talk about and offer to come in. If you have already been asked if you will come in then you have to answer - otherwise you are scheduled to be on holiday. The girl that is sick may end up comming in who knows. However it is the manager's job to resolve the staffing level not yours. Stand your ground - you will only have your children's youth once. Good Luck.
2007-03-28 01:06:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not your problem. If you have had your holiday approved, it's up to your employers to figure out how they will staff the office. They will manage.
Go enjoy the holidays with your children. In my experience, they will think the sick person let them down more than you... and while that maybe wrong, it's just the way it goes.
2007-03-28 01:04:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You take your holiday as you have planned. The firm can get a temp if they are short staffed. That's why you're an employee. It's not your problem.
2007-03-28 00:58:11 · answer #4 · answered by jofrancisc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know lots of people have said it's not your problem - and it shouldn't be. but the matter of fact is that it is! you just know your employer is going to say they now need you as someone else is off sick, which will be totally unfair.
and of course your priority is your children - but it is providing for your children (and having a job!) which is most important.
if you have been working for them less than a year then they can easily get rid of you if you refuse to work the week you were supposed to be off.
i would suggest that you raise your concerns now with your manager, to help stop you having sleepless nights, and to try and negotiate your time off. perhaps you could change weeks with the other girl who should be off the week after? or if not, see how your employer feels about getting a temporary member of staff from an agency etc, or could they manage for 1 week without you?
2007-03-28 01:25:43 · answer #5 · answered by just trying to make a difference 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If I was in your shoes I'd ask your boss what the score is.
I would say it like this: "Is the office going to be short staffed, what with me on holiday and [colleaugue] off sick?"
Choose your course of action based on what their answer is.
Your colleague's sickness isn't your responsibility to sort out, and therefore it's unreasonable to for your employer to expect you to sacrifice your holiday.
2007-03-28 02:59:36 · answer #6 · answered by ralphseviltwin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
take your holiday. at the end of the day you can always get another job but you cant get the time back that you miss out on with your kids. they grow up fast and it would be a shame to miss it. your holiday is booked so go and don't feel guilty.
2007-03-28 01:09:36 · answer #7 · answered by val f1 nutter 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This shouldn't be your problem. You've booked your holiday so go and enjoy it. Your firm can get a temp in to cover. Not your fault or problem.
2007-03-28 02:39:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree, it is your employers problem rather than yours. However, if you are able to take your holiday some other time (possibly not with 3 kids) it would do no harm to approach your manager and point out the problem (although if they have their wits about them then they should already have noticed). I'm sure you could both come to some arrangement.
2007-03-28 01:00:26 · answer #9 · answered by MattK 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You cannot leave your firm short staffed if you can help them. This is the team spirit. Your organization should in turn appreciate and consider these aspects when deciding your promotion etc.
2007-03-28 01:07:02 · answer #10 · answered by businessman 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋