getting time off

Stench Blossoms

Ive been working in my current job for the last 2 months or so.

I've a wedding that i must attend at the end of july. (I told them this when i started) To get time off I have to fill in a day request at least 2 weeks in advance. I filled mine out last week just in case they had forgot about it.

Was called down to the office and told that they "would have to think about giving me the time off, because everybody is going to a wedding that weekend"

I am so bloody annoyed. What the hell am i suppose to say to my cousin

"hey sorry i can't be your bridesmaid because I can't get the weekend off work!"

I don't know what to do.

Somebody else told me to get a doctors note and say I'm sick. But I was thinking that like they know I had to go to a wedding that weekend and would probably call me in on it.

What should I do?

Gilgamesh

I am not quite sure, but you should be able to get the day off for personal reasons, is normally mentioned in every contract, meaning you do not have to give a reason for why you couldn't come to work.
might be a thought

Stench Blossoms

nope not where i work. You can have 2 sick days without a doctors note . Then when you come back you have a "Back to work interview". No days for personal reasons

stopper

Tell them that it's your cousin's wedding and that you are one of her bridesmaids.

The Organisation of Working Time Act states that the time at which annual leave may be taken is determined by the employer having regard for work requirements, and subject to the employer taking into account the need for the employee to reconcile work and family responsibilities.

Are you a member of a Trade Union?

Stench Blossoms

I told them i was a bridesmaid and it didnt make a difference. I'm really annoyed because a girl that started a few weeks after me was givin 10 days holiday in July and they won't even give me 3 poxy days.

Nope not in a trade union

stopper

Contact the Employment Rights Information Unit and tell them your situation. They deal with complaints about breaches of the Organisation of Working Time Act. The number is 01 631 3131.

Stench Blossoms

thanks!

stopper

If they can't help let us know or PM and I'll try and get you more information.

Our man in Havana

Go sick for 2 days, they won't be able to disprove your story.

stopper

You could also try to explain the situation to your supervisor/manager and see if they are willing to intervene.

Don't ring in sick, especially if you are still on probation there.

Kell

orla wrote:

What should I do?

Tell them in no uncertain terms that you are going and that it is final.

K-

the_syco

orla wrote:

I told them this when i started

Remind them that you already told them.

orla wrote:

a girl that started a few weeks after me was givin 10 days holiday in July

Then ask how this happened.

Stench Blossoms

the_syco wrote:

Remind them that you already told them.

They have "forgotten"

the_syco wrote:

Then ask how this happened.

Their not allowed talk about another employee's time off with me

Our man in Havana

Take the days and go sick, it will be impossible to disprove.

calhob_ie

Don't take the days sick if you've only been working their two months, they don't have to prove anything or give any reason for that matter to fire you within the first six months of your employment.

I'd explain to them in no uncertain terms that you have already informed them of your holidays and its not your responsibility to either keep track of employee holidays or plan a rota around them. Ask them if there is a compramise arrangement you can reach, working overtime or extra days somewhere else. If thats still a no go then you've either got the option of vocalising the issue with other staff members to try and embaress them into giving you the break or circumventing your manager and taking the issue up with higher management, both those options lead you down a slippery slope though.

Personally I wouldn't take "No" as a valid answer, they are management and you are an employee. They get a far larger wage than you to deal with exactly these type of problems and just because they can't carry their own job out doesn't mean you should be punished.

Stench Blossoms

I think I've tried everything with them at this stage. Said i'd work any other days they wanted me to etc and they still wouldn't budge.

Another girl is having the same problem, wanted time off for a concert and they said no so she handed in her notice. (she's been working there nearly 2 years)

Right now I'm just thinking of doing the same as the other girl and handing in my notice, been trying to find a new job since i started there. It's a horrible horrible place and I'm sick to death of it

Our man in Havana

What sort of work is it? Call centre?

Stench Blossoms

nope. Dunnes

WhiteWashMan

if i were you, id be wondering why i didnt bother to book the days off if they were so important.

why are you looking to blame the company you work for, for your mistake?

Stench Blossoms

i did book them! i booked them when i started, the company policy is to fill in a day request 2 weeks before hand. i shouldnt have even had to do this because i had already booked them days off but i did anyway so they wouldnt forget.

gandalf

Basically I would confront the person who made the agreement when you started to take the days off and tell them that you have made commitments based on their promise to you. If they are not prepared to give you the time off you will assume that they will cover the costs that you have incurred. Do it in a firm but polite manner. If you are confident the person could buckle (its all about confidence !!).

TBH Dunnes are not known for their employee friendly environment and if I were you I would be looking elsewhere anyway.

Stench Blossoms

Thanks. I'll try again tomorrow. Really dont think their gonna budge tho!

rancheros

I worked in Dunnes for over 2 years and i know exactly where your coming from, i was looking for time of for xmas.
Are you still on a temp contract???

Most of them managers in that place are uneducated jumped up monkees who wouldn't manage a washing machine race.

I found to confront them head on and take no **** from them is the best policy, because they'll walk all over you if they get a chance. Just say your brides maid and your going whether they like it or not

Stench Blossoms

yeh i'm still on a temp contract. I'm trying to get out of there as soon as possible but i think that they'l just fire me if i tell them i'm going to the wedding

stopper

Is there anyone in authority in the place who would be prepared to put in a word for you?

Stench Blossoms

nope not really. All management kinda just stick together

stopper

Were those people in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment able to offer you any advice?

A guy in my last job wanted to take a day off to go to a wedding soon afterf he started and the manager refused. Said new employees could not take time off until six months after joining.

It was just a case of the manager being a twat. The guy just had to go along with it because he was just started there.

Stench Blossoms

no not really. They said its at the employers discretion when to give the holidays and since i've only been working there 2 months im not entitled to any.

im only allowed one sunday a month off and they gave me next sunday off so that means i definatley wont be allowed off for the wedding.

oneweb

If it was a job that you loved and were well paid for then you'd have a valid reason to not pull a sickie. But, eh, it's not. I was lucky in that most of my managers during my time there were sound. Unfortunately there are, as with every other company, some jumped-up ego-filled managers there who love to play God and walk all over anyone just because they have the suit.

Pull the sickie and if they fire you, bring them to the employment tribunal, telling them that you asked for time off when you started, have given plenty of notice and had a family obligation.

So long as you are a decent worker, punctual and haven't pulled too many sickies it shouldn't even get that far, you'll probably just be told not to do it again. Believe me I know plenty of people who were terrible at all of the above and they got loads of chances to fix it.

Hope that helps.

WhiteWashMan

orla wrote:

yeh i'm still on a temp contract. I'm trying to get out of there as soon as possible but i think that they'l just fire me if i tell them i'm going to the wedding

worse case scenario - you get fired from a job in Dunnes stores youve had for 2 months.

this is the worse case scenario.

i can think of much much worse things in my life.

like working for dunnes for another 2 months to be honest.

just tell them, if they fire you, hey, at least you have experienced getting fired. going the gang. its fun!

and then go and get yourself a decent job. no offence!

Civilian_Target

Don't take the day sick.

Tell them you're going to the wedding - don't ask for the time off - tell them you're taking these 2 days off to go to a wedding at which you're the bridesmaid. If they say "We can't let you go", say "Sorry, I have to go" and tell them that you mentioned it as soon as you joined. If they get stroppy remind them that its well within your rights, and if they refuse to let you go - tell them you're going anyway. And go. They won't sack you - and on the off chance that they try to you can always contact the employer tribunal.

Our man in Havana

No you can't contact the employment tribunal. You must have 12 months continous service to avail of their services.

Stench Blossoms

WhiteWashMan wrote:

go and get yourself a decent job. no offence!

lol i hate this job! believe me if anywhere else was taking on people i'd be gone like a light. i was told to stop smiling so much at customers today :rolleyes:

i was talking to one of the managers today who agreed with me that i should be allowed take the days off.. he told me to get a sick note. he said they'll prob give out to me anyway tho...

JackKelly

So you told them previously that you had this wedding to go to, which is all according to the rules. Then when you went to tell them you were going, they refused? I agree with the "tell them your going, and thats that". You followed the rules so why should you be punished? It would almost be best if you got the sack-that place seems like a dump to work in. Stop smiling at customers? wtf.

gandalf

Yeah smiling at customers is bad :rolleyes:

How the hell did these muppets get jobs themselves !!!!

ajmurphy62

DUNNES LOL......The worst of the 3 big Retailers in dublin to work for. Top is Superquinn then Tesco then dunnes, well actually it goes Superquinn > Tesco> Every other job imaginable> Dunnes.

They have the worst employee treatment ive ever heard of.

I had a similar problem in Tesco. Wouldnt give me a weekend off that i requested 3 months in advance. Just turned my phone off and didnt go in. Got a warning from the Duty Manager when i came back and a well done from the rest of the Staff. They wont fire you. They'll moan at you. But even if they did it wouldnt be that big a loss.

Oh and dont even bother with the Union. They are ****. Tesco and dunnes have the same union. Its really **** and your better of trying to sort it yourself.