Taking time off for exams!

py2006

Hi all,

What is the general attitude employers have with regards to staff taking time off for exams?

I have to take 3 mornings off next week for exams. However, my employer has told me that I have to make up the time at a later stage. I was a little taken aback by this.

I already have to head back to work after the exam which is fine I guess but I know some of the other students have the entire day off and will be heading to pub straight after.

I realise employers are not obliged to allow for time off but is it not normal etiquette for them to allow exam time off and to pay them as per usual?

I have a feeling that my employer will deduct from my pay the 9 hours I will have to take off for exams and only pay me when I make up the hours.

Am I being unrealistic here?

leeroybrown

It entirely depends on the employer. I'd say that you're being a tad unrealistic. If it's a work sponsored course or qualification (accountancy?) then I'd say you are bit unlucky not to be offered a bit of exam leave but at the end of the day you probably should have sorted out the exact details ages ago.

py2006

leeroybrown wrote:

It entirely depends on the employer. I'd say that you're being a tad unrealistic. If it's a work sponsored course or qualification (accountancy?) then I'd say you are bit unlucky not to be offered a bit of exam leave but at the end of the day you probably should have sorted out the exact details ages ago.

I guess your right. Its just that others seem to get the time off.

My employer is not sponsering me for it but it is certainly of benefit to them that I do achieve this qualification.

I also found out today that I must bring in my timetable and offical headed letter from my college showing my exams details etc.

I guess they dont trust me.

Tom Dunne

py2006 wrote:

Am I being unrealistic here?

I'm afraid so. You are not legally entitled to anything with respect to exam leave.

Most employers have policies on exams and study leave, some see the merit in it, some don't. Sounds like your employer doesn't take education too seriously.

Could you take a few hours holiday?

py2006

tom dunne wrote:

Sounds like your employer doesn't take education too seriously.

It does sound like it alright. The ironic thing is I am an IT Intructor! I am employed to teach computers etc. I work for a educational centre!

Ideally, I should already have my IT degree but I am doing it at night.

leeroybrown

I may offend a few people by saying this but in my personal experience of IT training companies most of them couldn't care less what the qualifications of their instructors are so long as people pay them enough for the courses.

Tom Dunne

py2006 wrote:

It does sound like it alright. The ironic thing is I am an IT Intructor! I am employed to teach computers etc. I work for a educational centre!

Ideally, I should already have my IT degree but I am doing it at night.

:eek: That says it all really. An educational organisation that doesn't believe in education for it's staff.

leeroybrown wrote:

I may offend a few people by saying this but in my personal experience of IT training companies most of them couldn't care less what the qualifications of their instructors are so long as people pay them enough for the courses.

As somebody who has worked for these type of places in the past, I couldn't agree more.

py2006

Well any reputable centre of education will have to adhere to the Quality Assurance Framework which is mainly just a bunch of paper work but part of it is that staff must be suitably qualified.

It is not in stone yet but it will be enforced in the next couple years.

BC

Having to produce the timetable etc is normal practice.
Will your employers let you take annual leave on the days in question instead of requesting it as special exam leave?

py2006

BC wrote:

Having to produce the timetable etc is normal practice.

Not sure what you mean there??

BC wrote:

Will your employers let you take annual leave on the days in question instead of requesting it as special exam leave?

I am not sure as the place closes for 2 weeks at Easter and 4 weeks at Christmas so I think my annual leave has to be within those dates.