Is it ok for boss to ask why I want time off?

robredz

Anihilator wrote: »

You tell them you have a personal appointment.

I can guarentee that raises less suspicon or aggro than refusing to tell them.

In the general way of things, you would mention what you are going to do on the day off, it does help keep good workforce relations, besides work colleagues would be just as nosey as a manager as to what one is up to.

ceridwen

Give her the benefit of the doubt - maybe she was just making conversation/trying to be sociable and hasnt yet realised she must not ask staff things like that.

If ever I'm asked - and it takes a pretty thickskinned manager by now to do so;):D - then I just mutter in a deliberately vague way "stuff to do" and leave it at that and walk off or get on with my work.

I have found from long experience that its best to tell ones work colleagues as little as possible about what one does outside work - but then I do have an employer who makes a policy of deliberately finding out everything they can about the staff at a personal level (in order to use it against them any time they want to:cool::mad:) - hence I tell them as little as possible:D

"Nosy" is my employers "middle name" - so I know where you're coming from...

CM86_2

Yep - I second that, if she's new, she was probably just being friendly!

prowla

It is perfectly possible that they may have just been making conversation or showing an interest, rather than prying into your personal affairs or trying to be intrusive.
In general, it is probably better to say something random or even say you are expecting a delivery rather than to get confrontational.

SueC_2

Strictly speaking, no, it's none of her business.

However, although you are 'entitled' to your holiday entitlement, it is actually your employer's decision when you can/can't take it. Given this, open communication can be an effective way of persuading your employer to let you take the holiday at a time that suits you.

To give a non-employment related example, if your son / daughter / partner / friend / whoever said to you:

"I need £20. Give it to me now".

would you be more or less likely to help them out than if they said:

"I'm in a right pickle, my pay hasn't gone into my account and isn't going to for another week, I'm at the full extent of my overdraft limit, and I have no food in the cupboard and no way of buying any"?

When asking anything of anyone, context is important.

liney

Would you rather they just said:

"No. Too short notice"
You "But there's no one else off, and we aren't busy"
them "Policy dictates that you must give 1 week's notice, (so because i'm an !!!! who takes no interest in my employees) the answer is no.

Or she might be like me, who often feigns interest out of politeness; if i have to listen to the recapp when they are back in the office, then at least i'm half prepared.

freakyogre

...so why do you want time off?

brightonman123

try teasing him/her, and say its to go sleep with their partner.. (do it with a smile, in both situations..) ;-)

Fluffi

Even if work isn't busy or short staffed most companies have a policy of having to give more than just a few day's notice for a day off. For me its 4 weeks notice - my line manager can authorise holiday if I don't give enough notice but only if for a good reason - so they have to ask why I want the time off - if I'm going to a medical appointment, funeral etc then they will authorise it!

I don't think a manager should be disciplined for asking why you want a holiday if you are asking for it in the next week, either its something that hass come up urgently like a medicial appt etc or you've been disorganised and you should have requested it a lot earlier. They are actually trying to help you and trying to grant the holiday - as liney says would you rather they said "No". Because if they just grant short notice holiday for no reason for you then they'll have to do so for everyone else!

Uncertain

99% of the time there is no good reason why an employer needs to know your reason. I felt is was better not to ask. Normally, holidays for example, the reason / destination etc would be given but sometimes the staff member would rather keep quiet..

The only exception I can think of is when there is good reason to refuse the request. It may be an exception can be made (even if it costs the firm money) for a valued employee with an exceptional reason.

I did not want to be in the position of deciding if it was more important for Fred to visit his sick Aunt than for Charlie to to go to his daughter's sports day.