Ot - I need your opinions
In June I took 4 days off for my family to come visit me. I had family coming in from Oregon and Tennessee. On June 7th, the same night all my family was arriving, Nan approached me and told me that she couldn't let me have the 8th off, and also I may have to work on the 13th. I was just in shock. I didn't know what to say. I told her all my family was arriving because she had already approved the time off. She told me that I HAD to come in. I was distraught, and in tears. I actually had to find someone to work for me, on a day that I was already marked down to be off.
That same month Pam was off for vacation. We were short staffed; but Pam was NOT approached to have to work.
Over the 4th of July holiday John, Pat, and Laura were all given vacation time. That was a particularly tough week because we were short staffed. As I recall, Pat gave up some of her vacation time and worked. She was NOT approached to do this. It was voluntarily done.
On July 27th both Pam and Joan were given time off. We were short that day as well. Neither were asked to come in.
In October both Kristine and Rebecca were given time off at the same time. We were short then as well. Neither were asked to give up their vacation time.
The following people have time off the day after Thanksgiving: Alissa, Kristine, Joan, and Peggy. That is typically a VERY busy day and we will be working it short staffed. None of them have been approached to come in.
Melanie, who has only been with us for 4 months, is leaving her hall nurse position. She interviewed for a chemo position and got the job. I was told, when I first started, that you have to be in your position for a year before you can apply for another. This is going to cause us to be very short staffed. She should have been told she had to wait a year; but she was not told this.
Nan's second point for not giving me the time off was that it wouldn't be fair to give me vacation over someone who has PTO. I had no PTO left due to being off for 3 weeks on disability. I was out due to a fissure that wouldn't heal. It was so EXTREMELY painful and I ended up having to have surgery. I would have traded places with anyone in a heart beat. My point to Nan was that that was not a vacation for me, and that we are allowed to go 40 hours in the hole. Read below.
Melanie started working with us in July. Since then she has taken 2 two week vacations and has had other random days given to her off as well. I can't imagine she had accrued enough time off to be able to do this (she has only been with us for 4 months). Therefore, Nan must have allowed her to go in the hole.
When I was interviewed one of my questions was how does taking time off around the holidays work. I was told that it is first come first served. Also, if you take one holiday off, you can't take off the next if someone else is requesting it. Read below.
Pam, who is the person that got a week off over Christmas, also has Thanksgiving week off (with the exception of the day after TG). Because she requested Christmas week off, I was not allowed to get the time off. She should not have been allowed to take two holidays off in a row. Another point is that her family is in Minnesota. My family is in Tennessee. That should have been taken in to consideration as well.
The following people have either the day after or the day before off for TG and Christmas: Alissa, Joan, and Peggy.
Rebecca has the day off after Christmas, and the day before and after off for New years (the 31st and 2nd).
Alissa has the day off after all three holidays.
The above is all to prove that the rules do NOT apply for everyone. I feel like I am being discriminated against and want some form of action taken. Please do consider my plea.
Thanks! Another point I am going to bring up is an email that I sent to Nan. I'll make this a short story. I let her know that I was upset and wanted to speak with her about the vacation time. She wrote me back saying, "Yes, let's meet this afternoon. Would EAP be able to help you at this time?" EAP is for people who are going through emotional times that they can't handle on their own and need psychological help. I think this comment was VERY inappropriate. What do you all think. Thoghts very appreciated. Thanks!!!! Lori
I am not sure what to say other than I agree, it's not fair to have more than one holiday off in a row when you work in a big team like you do. At my last job it worked like that, if you had the day after t'giving, you couldn't take the day before Christmas that kind of thing.
Your medical leave should have no bearing what so ever in your vacation plans...as far as I can tell. I used to work in HR many moons ago and I believe that was the case.
Do you think your boss has a personal issue with you or is just having some planning issues and it's just bad luck and timing for you? I hope HR can help you out. Are you in a union? They might be able to help also.
Good luck
2003 RNY, 2007 Revision Distal RNY
April 17, 2009 ~ fleur de lis TT w/Muscle Repair, Medial Thigh Lift, Ventral Hernia Repair
To answer your question, my boss, and a few others, have been indifferent towards me ever since they found out I was going to have bariatric surgery. I'm not sure if there is something to that or not. I have no real proof....... just my feelings about it.
Unfortunately I am not in a union. I work in a clinic. THanks very much for your input. Lori
Hi Lori,
I'm sorry you are dealing with this. What a wacky supervisor you have at work. I agree with the earlier reply, bid on another position if you see something you want. As for this situation, you've done a great job of documenting everything. Stick with the facts, keep your emotions in check and hopefully HR will be reasonable and intervene on your behalf.
Good luck to you.
Tracey
P.S. How are you feeling?
As a manager myself the holidays and time off with employees gets to be a tricky time of year. I always stressed to my employees that its first come serve. I will not allow my staff to be more than half staffed at any given time. However, as a manager you need to be understanding to your employees and try to work something out. There can be a comprise made. These employee manager relationships really need to be give and take on both sides. My suggestion is to talk with your boss before you talk with HR. Although you have lots of supporting issues I just think talking directly to the source is better. As a manager I would prefer my employees come to me first to try to work out the situtation. Approach it in a way that will allow for a comprise in in some way. Like is there one day out of your time off that she just needs you there? Perhaps you could get a later flight or come back early one day. Or even find someone who is willing to swtich time with you. If she is just unapprochable can you talk with her boss? Of course if all else falls talk with HR. You could always ask an HR person to come and sit in with you as you talk with your boss. This might allow the conversation to be more professional than the attack of EPA. At my company we also have the 1yr of service before transferring to another area. However, if something can be arranged with your manager we are always willing to support the employee and allow them to transfer elsewhere.Not sure how that works within your company. Even if they have the 1 yr policy I would try because exceptions can be made as you have seen. But, I do know the reason behind it is the cost it takes to train and it also shows the company you are willing to stick it out. Lastly, the comment from your boss about EPA was completely in my mind out of line. The only time that I would use that with my employees is if they were talking to me about a personal issue not related to asking for time off. I would report that to her boss or HR. You deserve as employee to be treated with respect. I really hope that you find someone where you work who will listen to you and help you solve this issue. Best wishes.
"You can't love if you don't love yourself"
