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I'm wondering what kind of company you work for because I just can't relate to some of the things in the post. My company always tries to accommodate my holiday requests if possible - it's good for people retention. They prefer a few weeks/months notice, but I've sometimes only given a few days and still got it. So it depends.
Once I know what days I want off, my personal strategy is:
1. See what important work I've got to do for those dates I wish to take off.
2. Ensure I have a plan to complete any important work needed for those dates - either doing it myself, or having someone else do it.
3. Find someone who will be around to cover for those dates (this can be left for management to do but it's helpful if I have a plan myself and gaining the support of your team/colleagues is always good)
4. Ask for the time off via email: "Please can I have the following days off: xx/xx/xx - xx/xx/xx. I have a plan to get xxx done by xx/xx/xx. xxx has agreed to cover my projects when I am away and attend xxx meeting on my behalf."
5. If my holiday request is rejected then I will include a reason, such as it's my honeymoon or it's my birthday or whatever (gain empathy). Otherwise, I don't feel a need to state why I want the days off.
If vacation time is part of your compensation package, there's no need to be cringing and circumspect about using it. As long as you are not breaking existing commitments by taking time off, providing notice to your boss and team in a courteous, professional manner should be sufficient. They cover for you when you're gone; you cover for them when they're gone.
I think you are forgetting a key point. They don't own you or your life. You are entitled to take time off as you see fit. Of course, you should try to be respectful of others and heavier workloads at certain times of the year but never let days go to waste nor feel you have to beg.
I hope you don't turn into the complete mindless corproate drone you sound like you are.
Just using the word "confront" is wrong. Wrong attitude, wrong approach. If this is how it is where you work you need a new job or priorities in life.
I really feel sorry for you.
Your vacation is part of your compensation package. Yes, your boss needs (or would probably prefer) to approve the time at which you take it, but there's no need to approach it like you're asking for a favor. You've earned it. It's a different kind of pay that you get in exchange for your work.
I usually do try to work with my boss to make sure that I'm not taking vacation at a time that would hurt a project. But on two occasions I've taken it at really crucial times in a project lifecycle. How did that work? Well, for starters both were trips that were planned well in advance, to the point where my boss and I had six months to come up with way to handle my absence. And that was at the bad job.
At the good jobs, I've never had to do more than say, "I'd like to take these days, will that work for you?"
Good post. I think too many people feel entitled to take off whenever they so choose. While a vacation package is obviously part of your compensation and nine times out of ten, your boss while let you take the time off, it's still a job and you should be committed. Sometimes sacrifices are necessary and it's crucial to think of your boss/team, instead of always yourself. A balance between work/play is definitely necessary, but I'd venture to say that the majority of successful people in the business world have made a few sacrifices for work before. It's refreshing to hear that people still recognize that today.
Great post man, you give a lot of helpful clues for the clueless. I actually only found out about this site because another one posted about it, http://www.ryanholiday.net/archives/post_30.phtml
He doesn't seem to like you guys too much, but any publicity is good publicity, right? Unlike your boss though, he looks like one guy that really needs confronting, put him in his place, you know? Can't have people talking about you like that, could hurt your reputation in the long run, best to nip it in the bud.
keep up the good work!!
Look dude, you need to spend less time writing and more time weeping about how sad your life has become. Confront your boss about vacation? I'll do that right after I accost him to pay me and trick him into keeping the office ventilated.
