Cock Blocked

[eggwards]

So I've found something not to like about the new job. No, it's not the tiny cubicles, or the fact that they have thirty-minute lunches. These are annoyances, for sure, but not enough to raise more than a small bit of ire and something to get used to. No, the anger comes at the heinous way they go about scheduling vacation days.

I'll admit that I was spoiled at my last job. I was in control of the calendar, so I got whatever days I wanted. I knew I'd have to make some concessions at the new place - one of those concessions was that I'd bee only getting two weeks of vacation this year, as opposed to the four I used to get. I was fine with this as I rarely took all four anyway.

Still, the problem is this. They have a really nifty system to request time off. Not only can you see the people who've asked for time off through all of 2007, you can also see if a date is available or not. As many of you know, business needs take precedent, and you need minimal staffing for everything to work, so at times you need to limit how many people can get a particular date. I was wanting to request March 24th, the Friday for TBRU.

Well, there's five people who are off on March 24th, so the date was blocked. The problem is, that's five people out of a sample of sixty or so. That's less than ten percent of the staff. I'm used to something more like a 20% ratio, but apparently business is so critically staffed, or they expect several sick calls, that they must limit it to five.

I asked my boss if I could have the date, or at least be put on a waiting list should one of the other people give up the date or die or something, but she said they really only make exceptions if there is a medical or family emergency. This didn't make me happy, as i'd rather be with my "family" than at work on that day, but it now looks unlikely.

So i thought I need to look at some other dates, to see if I could get those...Bear Pride and Memorial Day weekend? Taken. Thanksgiving or Christmas? Taken for 2006 and 2007. The Thursday and Friday for Fiesta de los Osos 2007? Gone. Just about any Monday or Friday in the next year? All gone.

I guess that you need to work here for a couple of years and wait for the next calendar year to come out, then quickly speculate on dates you might need and just sit on them. For now, vacation may be given as a benefit, but the privilege of actually taking it is just a theory, or at least only available on random Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

I guess any chance of doing a full bear run is ruined for a bit, and I was hoping to go to Wrigley to see the Cubs (and cubs) for Bear Pride. I'll just have to hope that I can be the first click on those dates in 2008. I'll also have to re-think going to Baltimore to see my sister again.

For now, i'll be slaving away in my tiny cube, day in, day out.

Comments

[sfobear.livejournal.com]

That's a bummer. The system you describe sounds much like the system we use at work, only union rules are applied which basically means seniority prevails. Now that the company reorg is over we have some weekend days that only had 2 or 3 slots open for a staff of approx 300. I think the planning, and the rediculous number of Tues/Wed/Thurs slots available, is that the majority of sick calls will come in over the weekends. Likely a truism in my industry.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sure there's many absences on important weekends if you don't give people some feeling that they have a shot at getting dates around major holidays and all. That's going to bring down morale as well. Yeah, weekday slots are good for doctor's appointments and all, but not so great for real vacations.

[mattycub.livejournal.com]

Wow. For me, that would be a total deal breaker in a job. My time away from work is just too important to give up. I know you can't afford to leave since you just got there, but seriously, that's awful.

Can't you just quit, become a housebear, and let Chris support you in the lifestyle to which you will quickly become accustomed?

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

I'm so wanting to be that husbear, let me tell you. then I can sell Mary Kay or something to help make ends meet.

Yeah, It's not the greatest thing, but I did go ahead and snag the ACL Fest weekend, since I saw that was open. Still, I would have liked the opportunity to go to Bear Pride.

[garebear.livejournal.com]

I'd say to be happy that you found a job in Dallas... then keep on looking! We had one employee who was in our office for a month before he left for another position!

In many ways I feel fortunate. I have a "unique" job. When too many in our office need to be off, we close down. If they really need my services, I'm usually quick to have them hire a substitute photographer. Unfortunately I've apparently been saddled with "producing" a dinner event that's occurring at the start of one of my favorite events.

Since it's only a two or three hour drive, I'm thinking of going on vacation early and returning for eight hours to run the show, then returning.

I live for weekend trips!

[profundojoe.livejournal.com]

Dude, if they bank on 2 or 3 people calling in sick, then BE SICK. :)

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

I'm considering that move, especially since they don't even give new people a chance to get these days legitimately.

[bigbearok.livejournal.com]

Can you see the names of the people who have requested off? Mayhap if you email those people, one of them might be willing to give up the day, especially if you offer to work for them on a different day.

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

I guess that would be one way to get to know people around the office! I'm not too sure if I could bargain to work for them, given how the system works, but I might be able to ask someone to give it up.

[bigbearok.livejournal.com]

It might work, especially if they just grabbed any date they could when the calendar came out.

[txlthrson.livejournal.com]

Thats one thing I hate about having to find a new job. low man on the totem pole for vacation again. plus most jobs i've applied for wont allow vacation for at least 6 months to a year

[eggwards.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is hard to be in this position. I understand that they want you there to learn the job and all, but one day, and I won't ask for another for 2 more months? So far I haven't heard about a real restriction on asking for it, just obtaining it.

Six months, or even a year is really pretty crazy. I think they need to think about the mental well being of their people.

There Is Still A chance.....

[bighoustonbear.livejournal.com]

There is hope, my friend, for one bear event this year you could possibly make, and that's Bearwatch in Galveston, May 19-21. This happens to be the weekend before Memorial day. Yes, it's not as glitzy and glamorous as TBRU or Fiesta De Los Osos, but it's a helluva good time, it's close-and-convenient, and you will still be in the company of "family".
Just something to think about......

[jerrycakes.livejournal.com]

I think it's just fundamentally wrong to be able to
plan that far in advance vacation days like that. Too many
things can happen between now and 2008 for people to be able
to say "I'd like to have the 3rd Wednesday in June 2007 off."

I'd love to get to Dallas for TBRU, but it coincides with
my Spring Break here in Little Rock (which starts that Friday
but really kicks in that Monday). So even if I wanted to go,
classes are something I can't abandon. I already did that once
before to visit somebody in Houston, and never the twain mistakes
shall meet again.

/Jerdog