Management question- vacation requests

[NewbieJr 540]

I am the manager of a small (5 employees) group of people. They are spread out over three locations in the state of Pennsylvania. We have a corporate calendar that shows when anyone in our department is scheduled off. Because we are a small group, I encourage employees not to request off if someone else is already off. It spreads the rest of the department really thin.

 

Anyway, back in March, this one woman (60 years old, chubby, and bitchy) sent me a leave request form for the Friday before Memorial Day, the Monday before July 4th (the 3rd), and the Friday before Labor Day. In other words, at the end of winter, she requested to take all three summer holidays and extend them into 4 day weekends. And essentially screwed everyone else from even getting one extended weekend. I didn't approve them at the time and put it on the back burner. She just emailed me again asking if the days are approved.

 

So my question is, if you were the manager, would you simply say 'first come, first serve' and let her have all three days? My thought is to approve the first two but tell her that it's only fair to wait a month or two to see if anyone else would like the September 1st date off.

[posty 2,295]

I think that since she followed the correct process and submitted the days, she should get all of them...

 

There are people where I work that put in for the last two weeks of the year off in February...

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

I would first outline a process that is fair. I would typically not give them the opportunity to book individual days like that so far in advance, but you do have to allow them to book whole weeks in advance because of advanced bookings for things like cruises and far away vacations. Make sure that you have a process by which you can deal with conflicts (rotating priorities, etc.) to take the subjectivity out of it because some people could claim unfair labor practices. I would suggest that you check with your Corporate folks to make sure that there is not already a company-wide process that you should follow.

 

Then you can talk to your individual staff and see if they have any conflicts with the dates requested by Captain Chubby. If they don't care, then she can have them. If there is a conflict, then you have a problem whereby you should probably spread out the love.

[drobeski 3,061]

Sure you are

[edjr 5,538]

Sure you are

 

digbyjr

[TimmySmith 2,782]

You need a better policy. In the meantime she should get the days. The reality is that if someone else wanted one of them, you could probably swing it because Fridays before holidays are generally slow business days.

 

Give them to her, the others will understand why you did it and hate her for it, not you.

[NewbieJr 540]

Sure you are

Meh. If I was going to lie, it would be hundreds of people under me, not four.

[dain11279 926]

First come, first serve. If you don't get your own request in on time, tough sh1t IMO. That's how it works in my department anyway.

[edjr 5,538]

First come, first serve. If you don't get your own request in on time, tough sh1t IMO. That's how it works in my department anyway.

 

 

we have 2 people in IT.

 

I've been boned several times because 1 of us has to be here at all times.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

 

 

we have 2 people in IT.

 

I've been boned several times because 1 of us has to be here at all times.

 

I assume that you mean "boned" to mean in a "not-so-good" way.

[NewbieJr 540]

You need a better policy. In the meantime she should get the days. The reality is that if someone else wanted one of them, you could probably swing it because Fridays before holidays are generally slow business days.

 

Give them to her, the others will understand why you did it and hate her for it, not you.

Since there is no actual policy, I'm inclined to agree and will probably approve them. although I'm afraid it will turn into someone quickly requesting the same days off next year. And become a race to screw everyone else.

[patweisers44 696]

This is a crappy move by the broad, no doubt. Not sure what the solution is for 2017. But try to put something in place for 2018 so this crap doesn't happen again.

[TimmySmith 2,782]

Since there is no actual policy, I'm inclined to agree and will probably approve them. although I'm afraid it will turn into someone quickly requesting the same days off next year. And become a race to screw everyone else.

If it's all up to you, then give her the first one and say you haven't reviewed requests for later in the year. Then remind everyone they need to get their requests in ASAP.

[Herbivore 904]

Since there is no actual policy, I'm inclined to agree and will probably approve them. although I'm afraid it will turn into someone quickly requesting the same days off next year. And become a race to screw everyone else.

 

sorry, but you sound like a terrible manager.

[edjr 5,538]

 

I assume that you mean "boned" to mean in a "not-so-good" way.

 

yes

[Djgb13 2,338]

Since there is no actual policy, I'm inclined to agree and will probably approve them. although I'm afraid it will turn into someone quickly requesting the same days off next year. And become a race to screw everyone else.

That's how it was in the military. First come first serve. I didn't get a Christmas off for 4 years cause I was always not on shift when the schedule came out and we could put in time for leave. So let her have it

[NewbieJr 540]

 

sorry, but you sound like a terrible manager.

Thankfully, the guy who signs my paycheck disagrees.

[DankNuggs 305]

Maybe have a inital round of requests. give everyone a week or two to figure it out and put them in. Decide equitably based on those requests. after that it is first come first serve.

[Herbivore 904]

Thankfully, the guy who signs my paycheck disagrees.

 

he's probably bad at his job too.

[drobeski 3,061]

Team leader and social function coordinator do not = manager.

Let the real management handle it and let them know the team building experiment isn't working.

[NewbieJr 540]

Team leader and social function coordinator do not = manager.

Let the real management handle it and let them know the team building experiment isn't working.

I am the real management, wire-puller. I approve or deny vacation requests.

[frank 2,143]

Have a draft. Serpentine or auction. Get a draft board. Have it at Hooters or a company trip to Vegas. Everyone has to draft at least one Wednesday. Trades approved by vote.

[drobeski 3,061]

I am the real management, wire-puller. I approve or deny vacation requests.

stop it, you pick out the napkins and call the caterer for the company picnic.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,552]

I am the real management, wire-puller. I approve or deny vacation requests.

Well, you don't do it very well. A failure to plan is a plan to fail.

[NewbieJr 540]

Well, you don't do it very well. A failure to plan is a plan to fail.

What's your plan today? Change diapers? Wipe the chunks of spit-up that end up on your Dukes of Hazzard t-shirt?

[cyclone24 1,787]

Team leader and social function coordinator do not = manager.

Let the real management handle it and let them know the team building experiment isn't working.

Haha..such a fantastic priick. Hah

 

I always did 6 months out for booking. So January to June was open then I would announce to everyone July through December is open.

 

With only five employees it's not that much work. I was doing that for over a hundred. It sucked balls.

[parrot 789]

this one woman (60 years old, chubby, and bitchy)

 

We're still going to need can size here. You know the rules.

[NewbieJr 540]

 

We're still going to need can size here. You know the rules.

Probably about a 40 C Think Danny DeVito with t1ts

[Cdub100 3,366]

If there is no policy in place you can't tell your people how to use their vacation days.

 

Is there a policy that says x people on the team need to be available to work? If not all those people could ask for the day off and there's not much you could or should do about it.

[Hardcore troubadour 12,552]

What's your plan today? Change diapers? Wipe the chunks of spit-up that end up on your Dukes of Hazzard t-shirt?

Definetly changing a diaper at some point. Doing some spring clean up. Going to the dump. Almost pool and deck season.

[parrot 789]

Probably about a 40 C Think Danny DeVito with t1ts

 

I work with her sister.

[NewbieJr 540]

If there is no policy in place you can't tell your people how to use their vacation days.

 

Is there a policy that says x people on the team need to be available to work? If not all those people could ask for the day off and there's not much you could or should do about it.

You are correct. We don't have a company or departmental rule about having more than one member of the team off on the same day. It's a courtesy that we all adhere to because it saves us from being the ones stuck here extremely shorthanded. The exception is between Christmas and New Year. I allow two off that week because the number of field guys working is extremely low and it doesn't much matter.

[vuduchile 1,940]

A request is just that. You don't have to grant it if you think it's unfair to the others.

[Alias Detective 1,177]

Bath Fitter manager. Nice!

 

Anyway, I assume you put it on the back burner because you didn't have the balls to discuss the "issue" when the dates were submitted. Now, she didn't let it slide, so you are faced with the same "issue". This time, you still don't have the balls to have the discussion, so you look to the Geeks for advice.

 

I shouldn't be surprised......

 

Anyway, as it has been said. Give the days off and get a focking system that works.

[porkbutt 860]

jeezus how do you take dealing with stoopid sh;t like this?....i always have someone below me to take care of petty bs. someone took my 4 day weekend

 

also "spread pretty thin"...i'm sure you could do more...stop posting.

[shotsup 830]

Who is going to work the fryolator when she is out ?

[shotsup 830]

We do not let employees request single days off more then 10 days in advance. Request must be made 5 days prior but not more then 10 days prior.

 

Also no one mentioned seniority ?

[Alias Detective 1,177]

We do not let employees request single days off more then 10 days in advance. Request must be made 5 days prior but not more then 10 days prior.

Also no one mentioned seniority ?

He manages people selling bath inserts in the malls. Seniority is counted in hours!

[NewbieJr 540]

jeezus how do you take dealing with stoopid sh;t like this?....i always have someone below me to take care of petty bs. someone took my 4 day weekend

 

also "spread pretty thin"...i'm sure you could do more...stop posting.

Oh you have no idea the petty sh1t I deal with. That's why they have middle management. So that upper management doesn't have to.

[NewbieJr 540]

He manages people selling bath inserts in the malls. Seniority is counted in hours!

Is that even a thing?