Boss Won't Give Me Time Off for My Stag and Doe

[Binoo]

I've been working on a temporary contract with a company since March. I was told that after the contract was done, they like to try to keep employees on permanently but that it could not be a guarantee.

Our contract was supposed to end July 5th. We were told on the 1st that it would be extended until July 23rd but could be cancelled at any time.

I took that opportunity to email my boss and let him know I've enjoyed working with the company and was wondering if he had given any thought to possibly keeping me on permanently. He took a week and a half to respond telling me we could talk about me staying part time or casual which simply isn't enough for me to live off of. So, I've been staying on this temporary contract to get a good reference and collect EI when it ends until I find something else.

I'm on time every day, I do my job and I take every extra shift I'm given at a moments notice. I've not asked for time off or any shift changes while every other employee on the contract has. Just this past two weeks I've worked an extra 72 hours on top of my regular 40 because he had a scheduling issue with another employee.

Normally, we get our schedule about 2 weeks in advance. We heard nothing up until yesterday saying that he has no idea if the contract is being further extended or not etc etc.

I was told when we were hired that this contract would be for sure done on July 5th. I booked my stag and doe for August 13th.

Now, it's two days before our last schedule ends and he sends us one that goes to the end of August (again, can be cancelled at any time). My schedule showed that I was NOT scheduled to work the weekend of August 13th. So, all good.

Well, shortly after I get an email from him asking if I would be available to work on August 11th, 12th and 13th. I told him I could work the 11th and 12th but the 13th I would be unavailable.

He then sends me a rude message back stating I have to work on all the days. It's no longer a choice. And I wasn't scheduled to work that day on our official schedule. He justified it by saying that this would normally be the weekend I worked. Which is all well and good but he didn't schedule me. Not to mention, I'm working this (and have worked several weekends in the past on my off weekends). I kind of have to be at my own stag and doe. So, I'm not sure how to approach this with him. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Gloworm]

He just wants to be a jerk.

[melancholy123]

Well doesnt that stink. I think you should explain about your stag and doe and that you simply have to be there. Offer to make up that one day another time and see what he says to that. If he's that stubborn you may need to look for another job.

[annie24]

Do you have a permanent contract from him? If not, you might need to give notice. Did you tell him that it is your stag/doe celebration and it cannot be moved as it was planned a long time ago and you have people coming in from out of town? You can also tell him you will need to have the 13th off and are going to resign. If you've been able to take over these hours that no one else is doing, he might think twice about losing a valuable employee. Though maybe not. Keep looking for other work.

[abitbroken]

Honestly, if you wanted this to be a permanent position, I would have treated it as such, even if it were not. When I was temp/contract and I had an immoveable thing happening - like a close family wedding, a minor surgery, or a trip, I would still tell my agency or employer that I would need that day off. I assume when you started this contract that you told your employer ahead of time when your wedding date was, even if you thought the contract would be up. It is hard when you are 'waiting and seeing" i know, but if the contract runs through July, there is even a glimmer of hint that it COULD be extended, I would have done the courtesy of telling them you needed the day off if it was 4-6 weeks out. I think this is all about poor foresight on your part. Sure, it would be nice if he was understanding about it - but if you are contract and part time/casual if that - he needs you when he needs you.

 

At this point - what are your options? Can you switch shifts with a coworker with his permission? Is this a nighttime event where you could offer to come in early to leave early or leave after work?

 

I guess i don't understand the whole "stag and doe thing" - from my experience most bachelorette parties are in the evening 8 pm or later for the most part. But that's just what I have seen.

[annie24]

As I understand it, the contract only is extended until July 23rd (tomorrow). Technically, he can tell her on July 24th or after that her services are no longer needed. Binoo has given 3 weeks notice that she cannot work a certain date, which I think is totally reasonable.

[annie24]

 

 

This thread reminds me a bit of this "Ask a manager" question.

[Binoo]

 

This thread reminds me a bit of this "Ask a manager" question.

 

Very relatable article. Especially the part about the concert tickets.

One of the other employees on the contract has switched his schedule every week for the past two months to attend baseball practice and tournaments and he's never had any issue or attitude from our boss.

[Binoo]

As I understand it, the contract only is extended until July 23rd (tomorrow). Technically, he can tell her on July 24th or after that her services are no longer needed. Binoo has given 3 weeks notice that she cannot work a certain date, which I think is totally reasonable.

 

Exactly. Plenty of time to find someone else. Not to mention when he sent out the schedule, I was not marked as working that weekend. This shift came after the fact.

And with the way things are going, let's say I reschedule my stag and doe and lose hundreds of dollars as a result of it, he could also cancel the contract before the 13th or extend it to the new date of my stag and doe and expect me to work an unscheduled shift then too and we would be back at square one. 😩

[dave_1966]

Where do you live in the world that someone can tell you that you HAVE to work on a certain day even though you're not contracted/permanent? In the UK Sports Direct have been told that they're running their company like a Victorian workhouse, and are getting bad press for it.

 

I'd be tempted to post this guys email on LinkedIn, and expose him for the trumped up little Hitler he is. Hopefully, this would lead to him being sacked by the dirtbag company he works for. Get another job as quick as you can, get paid up to date, then ghost these @ssholes.

[LiamLondon]

Obviously try and move if you are not as happy as you claimed with the company.

 

And if you like the company can you make an internal complaint against your manager? Even when I did a zero hours contract jobs companies always had a procedure for filing complaints - if you have saved the emails and make a good case you could get the time off. Or just go above his head - in a job I did in uni I was being marked unfairly on an appraisal and asked a senior supervisor who I was pally with about it and he dealt with it and had a word.

 

I suspect you are in the US - get a lawyer to advise as this guy sounds like a moron and is bound to have made a mistake that will work against him in court. Even if you are a contractor and you are in the US it does not necessarily mean you cannot sue, it just means your rights are more limited. Again, get a lawyer to explain exactly how you stand, and just in case you misread that I am not saying it will necessarily work. A lot of good lawyers offer pro bono advice - my employment and tenancy lawyers are expensive but often gives pro bono 15-20 min chats to help people out if they are not flush with cash and it can be better than talking to legal aid. Even just knowing you haven't got any case is much better than wondering - try your network of family and friends for one.

 

It's a better bet and less risky then leaking to the press - I can understand that your rights may be limited and you might do it as you think you have nothing to lose but it could go either way. You will be breaching confidentiality and if traced could have your contract terminated while the company absorbs the bad press which gets forgotten within a year, if not days, while employers know you and avoid you. It is too easy for the company to fight back and spin it as "employee was moaning about a day off" and a lot of managers will have sympathy for him and the important details (3 weeks notice for a reasonable request) could be drowned out. In fact if you are in the US then if Americans I have worked with are anything to go by the majority will have sympathy for the employer.

Or it could work, but point is it is an unnecessary gamble and risk.

[Seraphim]

Binoo you can contact the labour board or just state your intention of not showing up that day. He doesn't own you you just don't show up. Then he has to work , oh well.

[annie24]

I mean, no point in getting a lawyer or leaking to the press. Better to just wok on finding a real job with a permanent contract.

[Wiseman2]

Invite him. Just kidding. Explain it's a pre-scheduled nonrefundable event planned months in advance. Offer to get someone to cover for you or make it up the next weekend/another time, etc.

I'm not sure how to approach this with him

[j.man]

Welcome to contract work. It's not for everyone. Personally, I'd never go back to being an employee and I don't do contracts for longer than a year, but there are benefits I miss, one being flexible scheduling. If you're a contractor and are expected to work weekends, expect to work every weekend. Temp work is notoriously very unforgiving when it comes to time off. If you want a day off, get it in writing. I understand things were a bit convoluted with the extensions, but now you know for the future should you choose to contract / temp again.

 

That said, it sounds like you got what you came for and then some. An advantage to contracting is that you're under no obligation to stay on once the original terms have been met. Hell, it will probably still look pretty good because you already gave him some extra time. If the party is worth it to you, I'd just tell the guy, "Sorry. I'm more than willing to make up the work, but I will be attending this party." He may end your contract, or maybe you've done him a good enough job to where he decides it's worth it. As annie said, don't bother with boards or lawyers or town hall press.

[Ms Darcy]

Better to just wok on finding a real job with a permanent contract.

 

Exactly. You don't want to work with this guy long-term.