How To Persuade Boss?

duchy

I think as an employer I wouldn't want to open the floodgates of other staff moaning "It's not faaaaair" so dressing it up as a uni attendence day or professional development day lets them off the hook.

I think in your shoes I would broach the possibility of it with them now and see how they react.

(Seems really daft saying no holidays in a month where there's two bank holidays but my employers make equally silly policies too)

RoxRoxBling

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

The good thing about this plan of attack is that it doesn't open up the floodgates for everyone else to take days off for something "important"

duchy wrote: »

I think as an employer I wouldn't want to open the floodgates of other staff moaning "It's not faaaaair" so dressing it up as a uni attendence day or professional development day lets them off the hook.

I think in your shoes I would broach the possibility of it with them now and see how they react.

(Seems really daft saying no holidays in a month where there's two bank holidays but my employers make equally silly policies too)

That's it I'm gonna try and say something like that. After all graduation is a uni attendance day. And I really don't get a say in the day it will be
alls is going don't want to stress myself over it. And worry how am I going to approach it with work

And you're not alone we all think it's daft too.

Acc72

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

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)

So, we are talking about 2014 and you don't even know yet if the graduation ceremony will be in May ?

If I were you I would just concentrate on actually graduating, then find out the date of the ceremony, and only then have this moral dilema.

RoxRoxBling

Acc72 wrote: »

So, we are talking about 2014 and you don't even know yet if the graduation ceremony will be in May ?

If I were you I would just concentrate on actually graduating, then find out the date of the ceremony, and only then have this moral dilema.

Since I wrote that post I do actually know the month concerned.

mozzie1

You say hours of business are only Monday to Friday, could you offer to do overtime after 9 to 5pm (or whatever hours you work) to make up the time as you understand the heavy workload at this time of year. If they refuse that or if it is not possible, could you say that your graduation is so important to you could you take an unpaid leave day... so the employer is not bending the rule for you because they are not granting paid holiday but allowing you to take an unpaid leave day. Of course, this is dependent onwhether you can afford to give up a day's wages. If an employer agrees there would be no break in continuous service or holiday accrued and you would still get your entitlement to whatever paid holiday you have per year.
Also, is there another senior member of staff who would be sympathetic and you could talk it through with or could smooth the way on your behalf? Worth talking to them first if there is someone there.
Finally I don't know how old you are but if you are 16 or 17 and started a training course/education course before you began work for the company your employers are legally entitled to give time off for study or training... if you are this age or were when study began could you argue that this is the culmination of that training? Just a thought. Good luck

blckbrd

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

For one don't question me for when my graduation is. I am fully aware of the month my graduation ceremony is.
2. We are not on the same degree, same uni, or probably not even the same part of Uk.
3. I am not on this board to discuss when my graduation could be.
4. I am not your average full time fresh through school/college 16-18 cohort.

As clearly shown above one graduation is in June the other November. Different uni's different dates.

Calm yorself OP.

Noone here can help you with the lie you probably need to tell your boss to get time off in May. What people were trying to do was offer altenative paths to help you get what you want.

RoxRoxBling

mozzie1 wrote: »

You say hours of business are only Monday to Friday, could you offer to do overtime after 9 to 5pm (or whatever hours you work) to make up the time as you understand the heavy workload at this time of year. If they refuse that or if it is not possible, could you say that your graduation is so important to you could you take an unpaid leave day... so the employer is not bending the rule for you because they are not granting paid holiday but allowing you to take an unpaid leave day.
I am willing to have a unpaid day, work overtime, or ensure that all paperwork is up to date. However the issue my boss will argue is that I'm missing a working day, in a month that is so important to the business. And thus refuse a unpaid day or overtime.
Of course, this is dependent onwhether you can afford to give up a day's wages. If an employer agrees there would be no break in continuous service or holiday accrued and you would still get your entitlement to whatever paid holiday you have per year.
Also, is there another senior member of staff who would be sympathetic and you could talk it through with or could smooth the way on your behalf? Worth talking to them first if there is someone there. That is a very good idea, thanx. Although I have spoke to other staff their who are not senior members, I might try and see if the deputy manager can 'smooth the way for me' although I'm worried that because someone has been refused holiday this year because they wanted to get married in May.
Finally I don't know how old you are but if you are 16 or 17 and started a training course/education course before you began work for the company your employers are legally entitled to give time off for study or training... if you are this age or were when study began could you argue that this is the culmination of that training? I am way older than 17. Could you extend on what you mean by culmination of that training.Just a thought. Good luck

Thanks replied within quote.

I would really like to be open about graduation (and brag about it because its a happy occasion). But the boss's rules are beginning to seem like a obstacle. Maybe if I put a 'uni' spin on it, they may be more acceptable to let me work half a day.
It's just saying the right thing. And how to approach it.

ValHaller

RoxRoxBling wrote: »

I would really like to be open about graduation (and brag about it because its a happy occasion). But the boss's rules are beginning to seem like a obstacle. Maybe if I put a 'uni' spin on it, they may be more acceptable to let me work half a day.
It's just saying the right thing. And how to approach it.

OK, you have a year to think about this and it is important to you, But how important?

If I felt that something like this was that important, that far ahead, I would ask now, in writing. You are likely to find this kicked into the long grass, but I suggest you persist a bit until you either get a clear answer or a clear impression that you won't get an answer.

At that stage, you have to make the judgement as to whether the job or the day was more important to you. If the day is more important, look for another job and get your release for that day written into your engagement - or just tell the employer that you are going to take the day as unpaid leave regardless and take the consequences.

RoxRoxBling

ValHaller wrote: »

OK, you have a year to think about this and it is important to you, But how important?

If I felt that something like this was that important, that far ahead, I would ask now, in writing. You are likely to find this kicked into the long grass, but I suggest you persist a bit until you either get a clear answer or a clear impression that you won't get an answer.

At that stage, you have to make the judgement as to whether the job or the day was more important to you. If the day is more important, look for another job and get your release for that day written into your engagement - or just tell the employer that you are going to take the day as unpaid leave regardless and take the consequences.

The day is important to me (to celebrate my hard work)
I want to be certain of what I say to my employer first. And when to say it.
I'm leaning towards saying to have early release (I can work 7:30-9 for example) but if I choose to say that, I'm not saying it yet.

I think I need to say its graduation and not a request for annual leave (plus I can use the annual leave I was gonna use for something else now). Work are very kind to release me to attend uni classes. Just hope they're this kind for graduation.

mozzie1

I hadn't realised this was May next year, thinking it was next month. So you would be giving then lots of advance warning - even if you left it until the end of this year. So they easily plan for a day or half day absence in May next year.

Well to be honest I wouldn't get too worried about it.

Personally I would at some point write a letter to your boss saying that the uni have confirmed your study days for the next academic year and you wanted to courteous and let the company know the exact dates as they have been so supportive of you taking time off to do your course. I would reiterate how appreciative you are and if this qualification you are doing will benefit the firm in any way.

State the dates as the following:

Oct-April (or whatever months it runs) list whatever days you have to go in for study plus 1 day Graduation day 10am - 6pm (or whatever work hours you will need to take off) in May on a date tbc.

I would then say something like: As you have been so flexible with your support in the past towards my academic study, I wanted to give you as much advance notice as possible of the situation next year. Unless you discuss with me within the next two weeks, I will assume these course dates have been agreed by you as you have done so generously in the past.

I wouldn't then bring it up unless the boss queries the graduation and would just consider this is as part of the leave they grant you to complete the course.

Honestly, I don't think they will be that worried about one day or half a day and if they do then mention it I would say how important it is for you that would would take it as holiday, or if they still don't agree then as unpaid leave. I imagine the wedding has been turned down because often time off for honeymoon runs into two or three weeks.
Also offer to work the hours to make up the time or suggest that even 1 day off would be a problem could they get a casual worker in to cover for that day.

Maybe mention that you have never asked for a day off before other than holiday and also mention that you are rarely absent through sickness etc.

Hopefully they'll just put the letter in your record and it won't be mentioned ... then you'll just have to remind them nearer the date once the uni have confirmed this. If your boss then states this is a problem just say that you gave them XX months advance warning and stated in the letter than unless he brought it up within 2 weeks of the date of the letter he had agreed to them.

Am sure he'll just file it and not even query it.

Hope this helps. Good luck