Would you skive work to attend an interview?

amandacat

I have been with my company for some time but they made a lot of redundancies recently (I am told I am safe) and this has worried me despite their reassurances. They have almost gone into panic mode and as a result are placing intense pressure on everyone and I feel exhausted.

I have been head hunted by a rival company for a job that is more money for less line management responsibility (bliss as management really isn't for me)

The problem is that I have no annual leave left and this company can only accommodate an interview during working hours. I could attend on one of the days I work from home and catch up with the work I miss in the evening. However, if I was seen by someone from work at this interview, I have technically abandoned my work duties and could be sanctioned for gross misconduct.

I don't know whether to take this risk or not. If I am made redundant, I would be kicking myself for not going but if I am seen at the interview, I could lose my job anyway.

The new job would be a great opportunity with a larger company with better benefits. I just don't know what to do!

purcel

Could you not arrange for the interview in your lunch hour on a day you work from home? So technically you are not working if you are seen outside

amandacat

I did think that but unfortunately the interview is not close by so I would be travelling there and back, which they would know due to my home location.

The chances of someone seeing me that far out are slim but we do have offices in that area too and everyone in our company knows me!

elsien

How accommodating are your company? Would they allow you to take unpaid leave for a personal appt (then you wouldn't have to tell them it was an interview) or take the time and pay it back?

theoretica

In my work asking if you could juggle your working hours that week to accomodate a personal appointment would go down fine.

Your current company probably aren't stupid - they have to guess a lot of people are feeling insecure, and if you resign they won't have to pay you redundancy money so may be happy for you to leave.

Cycrow

My answer would usually be no, as i never really take time of work other than holidays. However, i did do just that for my last job, called in sick for the interview, which worked out well. I had been looking for a new job for a number of years, so didn't want to lose the chance

skintpaul

If redundancy process ongoing, ask current firm if you can cover options, and take time for an interview..

this may force their hand, mind!

Flyonthewall

amandacat wrote: »

I did think that but unfortunately the interview is not close by so I would be travelling there and back, which they would know due to my home location.

The chances of someone seeing me that far out are slim but we do have offices in that area too and everyone in our company knows me!

In the middle of the day how likely is it that someone you know from work will be out, exactly where you are? Plus they'd have to actually say something to someone who'd realise you should be at home working and could take action against you.

If they saw you at a distance I doubt they'd think twice about it, if they speak to you then don't mention an interview. They won't know any better. You could just have had a day off.

How close are the offices? Unless they're right next door or near a shop people in your offices are constantly going to they're probably not going to be there.

Also, I assume you'd be driving there? So unless you have to park far away and walk near your offices to get there you're, again, not really likely to see anyone especially if the building has their own carpark.

You said yourself it's a slim chance. So are you really worried about being seen, worried because it's not something you should really do or just worried because this would mean a change?

As others have suggested, could you not say you have an appointment?

Carl31

Make something up, its good that you have so much loyalty, but your current employer would cut you in an instant if they wanted to (as your colleagues have found out)

Not a great attitude to have, but you need to look out for yourself too - you can make the time up by working lunch breaks?

amandacat

Thank you for your replies.

I could say I have an appointment but my manager will ask the nature of this so if I am seen it won't really make a difference as I have lied either way.

It's right though, my company would drop me without a second thought if they needed to. Long serving staff have been called into meetings, told they are being made redundant with the relevant notice pay and asked to leave that day. Due to the nature of my job, it is unlikely I will but nothing is impossible.

I guess as someone has said that as well as being worried about being seen, I am of course worried about potentially making a wrong decision if I am offered this new job. But even without the small redundancy threat, I do feel like I have lost the passion I used to feel towards my current company but love the sector I work in and feel perhaps a change of company could ignite this again (but I could also hate a new company and be full of regrets)

I have made the decision to go and am being interviewed this Friday morning and I guess I need to find out a lot about the new company in case I am offered the job so I am sure it is a good move.

emmaa_uk

Put it this way, the very fact you have been offered another job with less duties and more pay is great in itself, I am a postie/customer services assistant and I hate the job now (wish I could get another that pays as well but cant even get another now), I now have a bad back and joints due to pushing a heavy load around. I get a lot of stabbing pains in my leg and walking around just makes it worse not to mention the back stabbers you have to work with, I have never worked with such a load of childish, nasty people ever! In fact some are so rude and insulting, I cant bear to work with them and the company go on and on about bullying and harrasing.

I use to work in an office too and even though it was boring people were respectful and polite. You have to take a lot of s**t in the job as it is now especially since it's got harder. Consequently, I am off sick and screwing the company for as much time off as I can get because they have treated me so badly.
So, in answer to your question, yes you have done the right thing, even though it's a gamble and you can better yourself with more money but if you like who you work with than that's good too, money isn't everything if you can afford it!

Keep us posted how you got on with the job! Good luck!