How To Persuade Boss?

RoxRoxBling

I work for a small employer. (40-50 employees) since last year, the boss has said no annual leave in May. However May 2014 I would like to book one day off. Even though the no annual leave rule is not in our contract, I feel I can't fight the rule.

So other than pulling a sickie.

I would like advice on how I can approach this with my employer. Because even if I was willing to have a day off unpaid, they would refuse.
So any strategies that could let my boss see how important the day is for me.

TIA

Ps the holiday will be for my graduation day.

hcb42

do not pull a sickie.

Explain this is a key date in your life and you need the day, off and you are willing to work Sat....or whatever...or so on so you can get the necessary time off.

will depend of course on what you do, but you get the jist i.e. give something back to win him over.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

First, we need to understand why no hols in May.

hcb42

company rule, workload. The company can impose rules no matter how bizarre or even irrational as long as they comply with the overall law ref holidays.

RoxRoxBling

hcb42 wrote: »

do not pull a sickie.

Explain this is a key date in your life and you need the day, off and you are willing to work Sat....or whatever...or so on so you can get the necessary time off.

will depend of course on what you do, but you get the jist i.e. give something back to win him over.

That's what I'm struggling with. I wouldn't know how to suggest giving something back. But to some extent I still feel like if I said all my paperwork is up to date before the requested day, I still wouldn't get the day off..

Suppose I could do with some confidence on how to use good negotiating tactics on my boss.

RoxRoxBling

I have checked my employment rights. And they are allowed to say when we cannot take holiday.
That time is a very busy month for us (of course according to the boss who only brought this rule in last year)

hcb42

what do you work as? what days? just so we can help.

If you cannot swap a day and work another day, then you are effectively going to have to put a holiday form in and explaining the importance of this date to you and your family after x days work and you would appreciate if he could give it due consideration etc.....(amend as appropriate)

the problem will be one rule for one, one rule for all I imagine, without knowing your boss , so that is the mindset you need to overcome....

or go sick of course, but then you might not enjoy the day

Funky_Bold_Ribena

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

I have checked my employment rights. And they are allowed to say when we cannot take holiday.
That time is a very busy month for us (of course according to the boss who only brought this rule in last year)

Yes they can, but you could negotiate. For example, depending on what you do or what goes on that month, offer to work one of your days off or weekend days to make up for it, or offer to do one of the jobs everyone hates to do...you have to think 'what would he get out of it that would change his mind'.

whitewing

That is why you have to offer it as shift swap or some way that he can let you have the day off without it being annual leave.

I think a graduation is a special occasion and of course you want to be there and be able to tell family etc that you were there (not necessarily colleagues though)

Does it require the whole day? Is it local? Give us more details about the day and we'll put our thinking caps on.

RoxRoxBling

hcb42 wrote: »

what do you work as? what days? just so we can help.

If you cannot swap a day and work another day, then you are effectively going to have to put a holiday form in and explaining the importance of this date to you and your family after x days work and you would appreciate if he could give it due consideration etc.....(amend as appropriate)

the problem will be one rule for one, one rule for all I imagine, without knowing your boss , so that is the mindset you need to overcome....

or go sick of course, but then you might not enjoy the day

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Yes they can, but you could negotiate. For example, depending on what you do or what goes on that month, offer to work one of your days off or weekend days to make up for it, or offer to do one of the jobs everyone hates to do...you have to think 'what would he get out of it that would change his mind'.

whitewing wrote: »

That is why you have to offer it as shift swap or some way that he can let you have the day off without it being annual leave.

I think a graduation is a special occasion and of course you want to be there and be able to tell family etc that you were there (not necessarily colleagues though)

Does it require the whole day? Is it local? Give us more details about the day and we'll put our thinking caps on.

I work as a nursery worker. M-F. And although my graduation isn't until next year I wanted to get in their fast with work. (I just know the possible month I could be graduating)
Surely one day off, the place is not going to collapse! !
It is local so could ask for a late start or early finish, but in my eyes that's not worth the amount you'd pay for the ceremony (would want to enjoy it). And no body is going to miss me for 1 day (I mean I'm not part of management)

But both of my bosses (both married to each other) would have had their own graduation ceremony. So perhaps a bit of emotional persuading? ??

RoxRoxBling

As a good employee I would like to let them know well in advance. But if a sickie is my only way to get a day off, I wouldn't tell my employer.