Time off at xmas

lyrascarlett

Hey everyone,

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me about this issue. I'm in college and work part-time in a large shop for 2 evenings and a saturday. I asked for 5 days off around new year - gave at least 5 weeks notice. I know that this is their busiest time but up until this week I thought I was going to get it off. It was only yesterday that my manager told me other people were taking hols then too and i couldn't have that time.

He was nice about it and i could tell he was sorry, but the thing is I really need this time off, as it is the only time I get to visit my grandparents and the rest of my family, who live a couple of hundred miles away. I think my only option is to hand in my notice. I don't want to quit this job but I think family comes first. I also know that it's not fair to only give a weeks notice before xmas, but the thing is I only found out I couldn't get the time off yesterday.

I'd really appreciate advice on this, am I being unfair to quit right before their busiest time?

Thanks

The_Conductor

If you are a good employee and get on well with your boss- try to talk to him/her as good employees are hard to come by. Perhaps you may be able to come to some arrangement with them. We work a scheme whereby if you get Christmas eve off- you don't get New Years eve etc so everyone gets an equal look in.

LegacyUser

welcome to the real world.

you're a student in a part-time job and working for an employer who , as you correctly say, has its busiest time at this time of year. the full-time employees are able to take holiday time at this time of year because they hire part-time employees. If they didn't then you wouldn't have the part-time job.

that's just the way it is. it sucks.

Awayindahils

lyrascarlett wrote: »

Hey everyone,

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me about this issue. I'm in college and work part-time in a large shop for 2 evenings and a saturday. I asked for 5 days off around new year - gave at least 5 weeks notice. I know that this is their busiest time but up until this week I thought I was going to get it off. It was only yesterday that my manager told me other people were taking hols then too and i couldn't have that time.

He was nice about it and i could tell he was sorry, but the thing is I really need this time off, as it is the only time I get to visit my grandparents and the rest of my family, who live a couple of hundred miles away. I think my only option is to hand in my notice. I don't want to quit this job but I think family comes first. I also know that it's not fair to only give a weeks notice before xmas, but the thing is I only found out I couldn't get the time off yesterday.

I'd really appreciate advice on this, am I being unfair to quit right before their busiest time?

Thanks

I worked in a supermarket for two years while also in college. Only worked a week night and a sunday during term time but as soon as xmas came along each year it was full shifts and 5 days a week. I know that this may sound unfair but the older staff who had been there 15 years + tended to get better treatment in terms of ****s holidays etc as they worked full time all year. Part-time staff at xmas pick up much of the slack and anyone who had worked in the shop for at least one xmas could have told you that.

Gyalist

I work in retail and my part-time staff were all told in July/August what the deal was regarding Xmas hours. One key staff member is going home to Hungary for Xmas but she asked at least 8 months ago so we had enough time to plan for her absence. Every year we come up against this with part-time staff. It is as if they only realise the week before Xmas that they want to spend the holidays with family. I try to accomodate students in term time but expect them to reciprocate during the busiest trading period.

Wishbone Ash

I would have presumed that it is only fair that part time staff would be requested to work around Christmas as full time staff should have priority with regard to time off.

I am rostered to do a 13 hour shift on Christmas Day. I'll leave my wife and daughter at 7am and I won't be back until 9pm but that is just the way it works and I would have known that before taking the position.

ergonomics

Are you living in a different country or just far away from your family. I agree with what everyone else has been saying about part-time staff picking up the slack for full-timers who get the time off which is just the way it goes I'm afraid. At the same time myself and 3 other girls who I work with are all living in a different country. Without asking our manager gave us all from next week to just after New Year's off to let us get home to our families. If you asked 5 weeks ago your manager should have made more of an effort to give you the time off. He should also have anticipated that, as a student, you would want to get home to your family. I would try talking to him again, I'm sure you'll sort something out.

dudara

More suited to Work & Jobs. Moved.

dudara

TEH REAL CDP

You could be dead tomorrow, you only have one life. You seem consciencious enough of your decision. I'm almost certain you'll get employed again. I had a similar incident for christmas week when I was working in a restaurant while in school years ago Unfortunately, he won't care as a manager. He wouldn't be in that position if he did.

If I was you, unless you really really need the money, it won't do you any harm to take some time off, hand in your notice and reapply. Or just take the time off. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

lyrascarlett

Thanks for all your advice!

I understand what some of you are saying about the part-timers having to put in the work over xmas, while the full-timers get holidays. However, there are 2 part-timers getting holidays at the time I asked for. And I'm pretty sure I asked before one of them, but they have been working there for longer.As well as this, my manager only gave me a definite no yesterday. Up until then I thought I was getting the time off

And I'm not asking for the whole christmas period off, I'm working this week, up until christmas day (and im doing college exams!). I just need 28th - 2nd Jan off. I live in Dublin, but all my extended family live down the country and my parents and sister will be spending the new year with them there - so I'd be alone if I stayed in Dublin!

I think I'm going to have to hand in my notice, even though I feel awful that I'm only giving them a weeks notice. But I only found out yesterday that I couldnt get the time off so what can I do??

Thanks again everyone

mikemac

lyrascarlett wrote: »

I understand what some of you are saying about the part-timers having to put in the work over xmas, while the full-timers get holidays. However, there are 2 part-timers getting holidays at the time I asked for. And I'm pretty sure I asked before one of them, but they have been working there for longer.

As others have stated, the full-time staff get priority over the part-time staff.
There is no way the manager can satisfy all the part-time staff. You've posted that the staff who are there the longest gets first choice over you, seems a fair way to do it.

One option is hand in your notice and maybe reapply next month. If you are a good employee you might be taken back or your manager could reject you as you've messed up the roster that they've struggled to put together.

I'm not sure what the best solution is but don't feel bad about only giving one weeks notice. You say it's a big store so you'll be replaced within days, most likely by another student.

eth0_

ergonomics wrote: »

If you asked 5 weeks ago your manager should have made more of an effort to give you the time off. He should also have anticipated that, as a student, you would want to get home to your family. I would try talking to him again, I'm sure you'll sort something out.

5 weeks notice is nothing. I work in an office environment and most people have their Christmas holidays sorted out by October! It's the most in-demand holiday period of the entire year.

Of course, the manager owes the OP something as she is a student :rolleyes:
I'm sure the manager will do a double shift just to cover for her so she can go home and see her family :rolleyes:

OP - if it is a really big deal to you then quit. You'll get another job.

OracleOfTruth

You have asked for the time off in advance so just take it. If it costs you a job then so what there are plenty more out there.

Nody

OracleOfTruth wrote: »

You have asked for the time off in advance so just take it. If it costs you a job then so what there are plenty more out there.

You are aware that as an employee you have no say in when you take your holidays, right?

Anyway to the OP, try to see if you can negotiate to go on 30th back on 2nd or similar instead, if not, well, 5 weeks note is not a whole lot (that puts you in November), esp. not for Christmas holidays. Heck, we ask for at least 8 weeks notice, preferably 12 for anything that is 5 days or longer.

The_Conductor

Nody wrote:

You are aware that as an employee you have no say in when you take your holidays, right?

Anyway to the OP, try to see if you can negotiate to go on 30th back on 2nd or similar instead, if not, well, 5 weeks note is not a whole lot (that puts you in November), esp. not for Christmas holidays. Heck, we ask for at least 8 weeks notice, preferably 12 for anything that is 5 days or longer.

I've already asked for 4 days off in February- and have agreed to work St. Patricks day in order to get a long Easter break off in March. Its perfectly normal to give tonnes of notice.

pow wow

I'm a student too and quit my p/t job because they wouldn't let me have Xmas off to go home - I knew it was going to happen because as everyone else has said it's retail and the busiest time of the year. When I lived in England and worked full time they'd always give me first dibs on the xmas hols because they knew I was from Ireland, but in years where I was working evenings in a bar or whatever I would always have to quit that job because I knew time off was not gonna happen.

As for only giving a weeks notice, well you're either going or you're not and the weeks notice is the best you can do. No-one is irreplaceable, and I dare say they wouldn't be dithering about giving you the shove if it came to it. It's unfortunate but at the end of the day it's about priorities and if going home for Christmas is one of yours, then your job is just a necessary casualty.

Electric

Quit the job. It's not going to be your career and you will find another.

Personally I prefer time over money because you can't buy it and besides a break now would be nice cos you know that you are gonna be going flat out with study come May.

Tazz T

As above.

It's heartwarming to see so many people caring about their employers at this time of year but there are a million other ****ty part time retail jobs waiting for you out there.

Say exactly what you said in you first post to you employer and when he says no tell him he'll have to wreck someone's else Xmas because he couldn't be bothered doing his job by giving you more notice, leave and have a great Xmas.

Wishbone Ash

Gyalist wrote: »

One key staff member is going home to Hungary for Xmas but she asked at least 8 months ago so we had enough time to plan for her absence

I don't understand this concept of giving holidays to those who give the longest notice. In my job it goes purely on seniority (although there's usually a bit of give and take) which is probably the fairest system as newer staff will be getting 'more senior' each year. Otherwise, what's to stop staff requesting Christmas off years in advance?

watna

This happened to me when I was in college. My dad is from Wales and we used to spend every Christmas there. I wsa working in a well known ladies clothes shop in town and they refused to give me time off for Christmas, even though, like you I asked well in advance and nobody else was taking much time off around Christmas.

I had to quit as staying meant being alone around Christmas. I wrote in my letter of resignation that if you are making me choose between my job and being alone at Christmas or spending Christmas with my family I'll obviously pick my family and leave the jon. Apparently the manager got in to trouble over it for loosing a good member of staff (and other things that were going on). A new manager took over 3 months later and rang me to give me my job back!

I reccomend you quit your job. Family is more important in the long run. It's understandable that they need you to work around Christmas, I've manged staff in retail at Christmas time but by not giving you time off (and at new year, not Christmas) they're shooting themselves in the foot. They'll lose a member of staff and be even more short-staffed.

lyrascarlett

Hi again,

Just to let you all know what happened, I went to my manager, explained again how important it was to spend a few days over christmas with my family, and shock horror he agreed to give me the time off! And he was nice about it aswell!

I was so surprised especially after what alot of you wrote about most people being forced to quit rather then get time off. It's nice to know that not all managers are completely inflexible and heartless around christmas - and actually value their employees.

Thanks again for your advice!

The_Conductor

Nice one- well done. Hope you enjoy your hols!