Casual Worker, Started 2 Months Ago but Month Long Holiday Booked Long Prior to Starting Work. What Do I Do?

Lseedopeedo on 17/10/2016 - 23:54

Hey guys,

I am an 18 year old student with a bit of an issue about 'leave'. Excuse my ignorance but I am new to the workforce and I genuinely do not know how to go about this.

I recently started working casual at a local supermarket, I don't get many shifts maybe 1 or 2 per week.

My dilemma is that I have a family vacation booked in a little over a month. I was not asked if I would be going on a holiday prior to commencing employment. My manager seems like a very reasonable person, but I am not sure how I should go about telling him that I will be unavailable for a month. I was wondering if I should be upfront and honest about the trip, or if I should provide an alternate explanation. I obviously would prefer it if I could keep my position but I am not sure exactly to go about it.

Thanks in advance, and if I am being stupid and ignorant feel free to roast me below !

Education & Work

Comments

  • spackbace on 18/10/2016 - 00:02
    +9

    Be honest. Also tell them you're liking the job etc

    They should be fine with it

    • ESEMCE on 18/10/2016 - 07:57
      +7

      And do it now… you should have told them in the initial interview

      • seedopeedo on 18/10/2016 - 15:19

        Yeah I definitely should have, I was honestly worried about not getting the job if I had told them at the interview (which is wrong and greedy of me)

  • Pharos5 on 18/10/2016 - 00:03
    +3

    Just tell them.

    I could talk for days about the ins and outs of the award, and obligations, and long-term vs short-term, etc.

    I say just tell them right before whenever the next set of rosters is being made. From there just take it one bridge at a time.

  • DarkOz on 18/10/2016 - 07:03
    +1

    Just talk to your boss and be honest about it. See how your boss feels. If they are cool with it you will be fine. If they are not cool with it then it's up to you.

  • try2bhelpful on 18/10/2016 - 07:46
    +2

    This is casual employment, so I agree with the others above. Give them plenty of warning, say you really enjoy working here, tell them the dates you will be away and tell them you are keen to continue the job when you return. The longer you leave this the harder you make it on everyone. I'm sure these places deal with people going on holiday all the time, and you aren't going to give up the holiday for 1-2 days work a week. God I'm old, but when I was a student I used to do factory work over the summer holidays. One year I had to do supplementary exams so I talked to the factory and got my brother to step in for me for the days I needed off; they weren't fazed and we both worked there for the summer so I could earn money to live for the year and he had serious pocket money.

    • hymio on 18/10/2016 - 13:47
      +1

      That was a beautiful story :') I feel like I've just read some Twain!

      • holdenmg on 18/10/2016 - 15:33

        I thought it was like the last episode of The Sopranos.

        • hymio on 18/10/2016 - 17:02
          +1

          Spoiler alert!!!

  • Flying Ace on 18/10/2016 - 08:35

    It shouldn't be a problem. Managers know that people have lives - you can't be expected to put everything on hold for 1-2 shifts a week. We have young casuals like you in my retail workplace, and it has never been a problem for them to take holidays, even if it's soon after they started :-)

  • cypher67 on 18/10/2016 - 09:31
    +4

    It is poor form to take a month off so soon after starting a job, especially if you knew you had it planned and didnt mention it during the hiring process. But Ultimately you are casual so you legally dont have an obligation to give them any fore warning. On the flip side they don't need any reason to terminate your employment or reduce your shifts even further when you return. Best bet is to tell the manager asap so they can plan for it and ensure they see you are an asset prior to going on the leave.

  • cupcake on 18/10/2016 - 11:46

    Mention it to the boss as soon as possible. Tell him or her that it was booked 2 months ago, and that you need to take 4 weeks off.
    You should have mentioned it before commencing a new job.

  • Randxyz123 on 18/10/2016 - 13:08

    Just tell them. Say you didn't realize the clash with the dates.

    TELL HIM TODAY not a week before you go.

  • ms_caz on 18/10/2016 - 17:33
    +1

    Family vacation? Or schoolies? (which coincidentally, starts in about a month's time - not that I'm cynical but yours is a story I have heard dozens of times!)

    Given the time of year (lead up to Christmas rush) I think you might be very lucky if the employer looks at it in a positive light. If you have recently been employed, and it is as a casual in retail, then you will have fallen into the "Christmas casual" hiring cycle. I think that it is likely the employer might decide not to give you any more shifts. But, it's all speculation - nobody will actually know until you approach them and then have to deal with the consequences.

    Good luck with it.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join