To tell or not to tell...my boss i have interviews

Sambucus_Nigra

an9i77 wrote: »

lets just hope the boss doesn't ask me to explain 'personal reasons', or I can get them out of hours or whatever.....

'That's the thing about the word 'personal' boss, it's 'personal'. If it wasn't 'personal' then I'd have said 'dentist' or 'MOT' or 'interview' wouldn't I?'

Savvy_Sue

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

'That's the thing about the word 'personal' boss, it's 'personal'. If it wasn't 'personal' then I'd have said 'dentist' or 'MOT' or 'interview' wouldn't I?'

Love it! Just the job - OP (and anyone else wanting time off for interviews) I'd start practising that one!

an9i77

Aha but you don't know my boss he's a nosy git

rochja

One aspect that has not been covered here is that assuming you are successful in your job hunt then you are going to require a reference from your boss - unless references are handled by personnel section in your company. If at that stage you appear to have been duplicitous then great play can be made of your attendance record. This could scupper the new job. If you seek the aid of your boss at the interview stage and he places unreasonable hurdles in your way before proceeding to sack you then you are likely to have a claim for an employment tribunal - especially as you have requested changes to your working conditions and you say these have not been addressed. It also matters what size organisation you currently work for and what their grievance procedures are. Your boss may be trammeled by company procedures and unable to act against you willfully. Food for thought?

cashbackproblems

Most companies now only confirm dates of employment and position in references .

Personally unless you are v GOOD friends with your manager, I would make up another excuse why you need to pop away from work e.g. an ill mother/son/aunt who needs assistance to hospital etc. Iv been in this situation and know it can be difficult, i asked one company if they could interview after work and they did and others i did during my lunch break and told work i had physio so might be 20-30min late.

MrSnuggles

rochja wrote: »

One aspect that has not been covered here is that assuming you are successful in your job hunt then you are going to require a reference from your boss - unless references are handled by personnel section in your company. If at that stage you appear to have been duplicitous then great play can be made of your attendance record. This could scupper the new job. If you seek the aid of your boss at the interview stage and he places unreasonable hurdles in your way before proceeding to sack you then you are likely to have a claim for an employment tribunal - especially as you have requested changes to your working conditions and you say these have not been addressed. It also matters what size organisation you currently work for and what their grievance procedures are. Your boss may be trammeled by company procedures and unable to act against you willfully. Food for thought?

He won't be able to claim anything. The employer can refuse to let him attend interviews during work hours and easily find a reasonable reason to sack him.

an9i77

cashbackproblems wrote: »

Most companies now only confirm dates of employment and position in references .

Personally unless you are v GOOD friends with your manager, I would make up another excuse why you need to pop away from work e.g. an ill mother/son/aunt who needs assistance to hospital etc. Iv been in this situation and know it can be difficult, i asked one company if they could interview after work and they did and others i did during my lunch break and told work i had physio so might be 20-30min late.

It's the hardest thing! Not so bad if you only get the odd interview but if I have a few lined up, and with second stages if I get that far, then it's not easy. Unfortunately I work in the middle of nowhere so it will prob be at least a half hour drive plus the time of the interview plus drive back = 2 hours, so not easy to do in lunchtime. I'll have to come up with a myriad of excuses, may even use dependents leave and pretend my child's carer is ill or something, but don't think I can get away with that one more than once or twice.

Right so what excuses can I use as well as that (i may have to bite the bullet and be immoral and lie to the boss)
Car broken down
Dentist
Awaiting delivery of a new sofa

Err.....

MrSnuggles

an9i77 wrote: »

It's the hardest thing! Not so bad if you only get the odd interview but if I have a few lined up, and with second stages if I get that far, then it's not easy. Unfortunately I work in the middle of nowhere so it will prob be at least a half hour drive plus the time of the interview plus drive back = 2 hours, so not easy to do in lunchtime. I'll have to come up with a myriad of excuses, may even use dependents leave and pretend my child's carer is ill or something, but don't think I can get away with that one more than once or twice.

Right so what excuses can I use as well as that (i may have to bite the bullet and be immoral and lie to the boss)
Car broken down
Dentist
Awaiting delivery of a new sofa

Err.....

Outside of having a doctor's letter to prove you have a medical condition, there's no excuse allowing you to leave work/call in sick for more than 3 days per year. Most companies give a first verbal warning if you've been off 3 times... Stretch it out for several more days and the employer has a legitimate reason to sack you.

Just hope your employer doesn't do things by the book. Providing he's a nice guy, isn't professional enough to follow the rules of managing employees by the book, you'll be fine.

Northerness

an9i77 wrote: »

It's the hardest thing! Not so bad if you only get the odd interview but if I have a few lined up, and with second stages if I get that far, then it's not easy. Unfortunately I work in the middle of nowhere so it will prob be at least a half hour drive plus the time of the interview plus drive back = 2 hours, so not easy to do in lunchtime. I'll have to come up with a myriad of excuses, may even use dependents leave and pretend my child's carer is ill or something, but don't think I can get away with that one more than once or twice.

Right so what excuses can I use as well as that (i may have to bite the bullet and be immoral and lie to the boss)
Car broken down
Dentist
Awaiting delivery of a new sofa

Err.....

You really don't need to explain anything to the boss. Just come up with a vague reason why you may need a few days here and there as holiday over the next couple of months (e.g volunteering work, helping a friend in need, renovating a house etc) and then if your boss appears ok with this time off, say no more.

You can't get into trouble about lying about what exactly you're doing on your holiday, it's like asking for a day off to go to the beach and then changing your mind and going to Alton Towers - they can't sanction you that! Your boss doesn't own you out of work (or in work for that matter).

cashbackproblems

an9i77 wrote: »

It's the hardest thing! Not so bad if you only get the odd interview but if I have a few lined up, and with second stages if I get that far, then it's not easy. Unfortunately I work in the middle of nowhere so it will prob be at least a half hour drive plus the time of the interview plus drive back = 2 hours, so not easy to do in lunchtime. I'll have to come up with a myriad of excuses, may even use dependents leave and pretend my child's carer is ill or something, but don't think I can get away with that one more than once or twice.

Right so what excuses can I use as well as that (i may have to bite the bullet and be immoral and lie to the boss)
Car broken down
Dentist
Awaiting delivery of a new sofa

Err.....

Rather than a range of excuses i would stick to one story requiring numerous days/afternoons off as it will be more plausible e.g. mother being ill.