Excuses for getting off work

ntl customer · 15-10-2006, 20:36

Evening all.

I've managed to score a temp Christmas job with a certain retailer which has wanky adverts. I start in about 2 weeks and have 3 days (?) training that very same week as my start date. The pay isn't bad though and I am told the company treats their employees well.

All good so far. It's my first job too so I'm a little nervous yet excited (aren't we all when we start new jobs?!). However, I have some friend's 18ths that I have said I'd definately go to before I knew got this job, and unfortunately they both fall on my work-days (one on the Sunday which I am working in and on the last on my last day of my temp. employment contract). They have already made arrangements (i.e. booking tables at the restaurant etc) so it's a bit too late to undo it and I would feel bad saying I couldn't come.

So - here's my little dilemma.

I'm probably going to come clean to the people at my training about this (better they know now in advance than 2 days before) and say I can't come in but I don't think the 'party' excuse will cut it so I will probably have to be creative.

I am more than willing to work the hours on those days at some other time (i.e. when I am on Xmas vacation and at their busiest times), and perhaps do some overtime to sweeten it and unpaid leave on the days concerned. Should I mention this and will it work in my favour?

As I've never had this situation before - what should I do and what kind of excuse should I give?

The other thing that complicates it is that on the one where they've booked the tables at the restaurant, the restaurant etc are in the same town as my store, so I'm a little worried of my superiors/colleagues seeing me a little bit, well, you know, if I say I'm at a funeral or something.

Help!

Thanks for any advice, and excuses which you may give.

MadGamer · 15-10-2006, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntl customer

Evening all.

I've managed to score a temp Christmas job with a certain retailer which has wanky adverts. I start in about 2 weeks and have 3 days (?) training that very same week as my start date. The pay isn't bad though and I am told the company treats their employees well.

All good so far. It's my first job too so I'm a little nervous yet excited (aren't we all when we start new jobs?!). However, I have some friend's 18ths that I have said I'd definately go to before I knew got this job, and unfortunately they both fall on my work-days (one on the Sunday which I am working in and on the last on my last day of my temp. employment contract). They have already made arrangements (i.e. booking tables at the restaurant etc) so it's a bit too late to undo it and I would feel bad saying I couldn't come.

So - here's my little dilemma.

I'm probably going to come clean to the people at my training about this (better they know now in advance than 2 days before) and say I can't come in but I don't think the 'party' excuse will cut it so I will probably have to be creative.

I am more than willing to work the hours on those days at some other time (i.e. when I am on Xmas vacation and at their busiest times), and perhaps do some overtime to sweeten it and unpaid leave on the days concerned. Should I mention this and will it work in my favour?

As I've never had this situation before - what should I do and what kind of excuse should I give?

The other thing that complicates it is that on the one where they've booked the tables at the restaurant, the restaurant etc are in the same town as my store, so I'm a little worried of my superiors/colleagues seeing me a little bit, well, you know, if I say I'm at a funeral or something.

Help!

Thanks for any advice, and excuses which you may give.

Its not PC World is it?

Halcyon · 15-10-2006, 21:05

Tell them in the first week you start.
Normally you should get a document about holidays and they may ask you if you have any pre-booked holidays. Tell them this at this point and they should be fine with it.
Obviously when you made these plans you were not working so they should honor it and you should not have any problems.
They will probably either give it you as paid holiday or give it you as unpaid leave.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 15-10-2006, 21:08

You dont have to mention a party, "a prior commitment" is enough

---------- Post added at 21:08 ---------- Previous post was at 21:07 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Tell them in the first week you start.
Normally you should get a document about holidays and they may ask you if you have any pre-booked holidays. Tell them this at this point and they should be fine with it.
Obviously when you made these plans you were not working so they should honor it and you should not have any problems.
They will probably either give it you as paid holiday or give it you as unpaid leave.

errmm does that apply to a temp xmas job?

Chris W · 15-10-2006, 22:01

Holidays are something that i always ask prospective employees (particularly temps) about at interview- what is the point in giving a job to someone, only to find out that two weeks later they have a 4 week holiday booked?

I would be honest about it, and if they say you can't have the time off, then maybe turn up at the parties when you have finished work?

**Hugh** · 15-10-2006, 22:04

What time does your job finish?

fireman328 · 15-10-2006, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

Holidays are something that i always ask prospective employees (particularly temps) about at interview- what is the point in giving a job to someone, only to find out that two weeks later they have a 4 week holiday booked?

I would be honest about it, and if they say you can't have the time off, then maybe turn up at the parties when you have finished work?

I aree entirely with this, It is your first job, you should not be looking to find excuses NOT to work. When this job is over you will at some time find need to provide references for another employer and the first employer may very well either not provide a reference or provide a negative one.
As stated above, your social life should not interfere with work commitments, attend the functions after work.

ntl customer · 15-10-2006, 22:34

Cheers for the advice so far, keep it coming.

Quote:

Its not PC World is it?

No, definately not. The name of the store is like kinky sex, but reversed.

Quote:

What time does your job finish?

I work three days, Friday, Saturday and a Sunday. From what I can remember of my telephone conversation - all day Sunday (10-5/6), part Saturday (1-8) and part Friday (3-8) so as you can see the hours are a little unsocial.

The one at the restaurant starts at around 7-30 on Sunday so I will definately a good half hour or more late, and after all who wants to turn up at a friend's party in uniform and unrefreshed - although it is in the same town and a few mins walk away so I might be able to wangle my way in somehow although I am guessing the tables at the restuarant will be booked out for a specific time.

The other one, again, starts at around 8 so allowing for travel time, going home and getting ready I will be really late (since it takes about an hour to get back by train/bus and then a 20 min walk home a few mins to get ready and then 10 minute walk to the person's house).

Quote:

I aree entirely with this, It is your first job, you should not be looking to find excuses NOT to work. When this job is over you will at some time find need to provide references for another employer and the first employer may very well either not provide a reference or provide a negative one.
As stated above, your social life should not interfere with work commitments, attend the functions after work.

I can see where you're coming from, however, like I have said, I am willing to make them up at some other time/do overtime etc. I feel a bit rude turning up late for both of them though and they are fairly close friends.

danielf · 15-10-2006, 22:41

Bring your party dress/deodorant to work, change at work and get a cab?

greencreeper · 15-10-2006, 23:06

Decide what is more important

Matthew · 15-10-2006, 23:17

If I was you this is what I would do. Tell them you have a prior arrangements on the dates in question. Ask if you can finish an hour or two early on those dates, make it up on another day or ask if you can do an earlier shift or start your shift earlier.

When I first started my current job it was on the Tuesday after May Day and I needed part of the Friday off, I just informed them and they was happy with that.

Pia · 16-10-2006, 00:59

If you finish at 6 and you don't have to be there until 7.30 don't fret it.

I think with my job i've got used to working my social life around my job, and there's been times when i've gone out after work still in my uniform, and there's also been times when i've got out at 12am because i didn't finish work til 11pm and had to get ready and get there.

I'd just ask if i could finish earlier, but if you feel it might be taking the mick then i wouldn't, i'd just work around it, it's not lik you'll miss the whole night is it.

16-10-2006, 02:07

Go to work, get to the parties late, it's not ideal but get used to it as this is as good as it gets when you work for a living

I am sure most of the people there will understand and think more of you for carring out your work commitments than listening to some lame ass excuse you came up with.

Jules · 16-10-2006, 17:45

I agree with Gaffer

Delta Whiskey · 16-10-2006, 18:23

I worked as a manager for a national retail company. I'd take a dim view of a new employee who started off asking to re-arrange their hours, I'd be concerned that they wouldn't be reliable and could be a liability to the company. Remember, the Boss is after a quite life, he doesn't want to be shuffling staff around or calling in off duty staff.

DW.