Taking leave during probation?
Discussion
Hi All,
I am currently on probation at my work. All is going well. However, I work in IT and my manager has set my objective to pass an exam to get a certification (*sigh*).
Doing this is very tiring as I run my own servers in my spare time (For learning) as well and have a persona life too. All the revision is in my private time.
Hence, I want to take leave either before I take the exam or after (if before probation) to rest given the stress involved.
However, is it legally possible to take leave during probation? And even if it is, the other question is would it look good? However, my health has to come first. Objectives should not be something that is achieved just at home. The way it seems is that the employer gets his/her way - has a probation period for me to make me feel like a criminal, likely can't take leave, set any objectives with no regard for resources (though this company does provide training where necessary), and just 5 days sick leave (is that even fair in a permenant job?).
Your thoughts appreciated
Thanks
I am currently on probation at my work. All is going well. However, I work in IT and my manager has set my objective to pass an exam to get a certification (*sigh*).
Doing this is very tiring as I run my own servers in my spare time (For learning) as well and have a persona life too. All the revision is in my private time.
Hence, I want to take leave either before I take the exam or after (if before probation) to rest given the stress involved.
However, is it legally possible to take leave during probation? And even if it is, the other question is would it look good? However, my health has to come first. Objectives should not be something that is achieved just at home. The way it seems is that the employer gets his/her way - has a probation period for me to make me feel like a criminal, likely can't take leave, set any objectives with no regard for resources (though this company does provide training where necessary), and just 5 days sick leave (is that even fair in a permenant job?).
Your thoughts appreciated
Thanks
Z064life said:
Hi All,
I am currently on probation at my work. All is going well. However, I work in IT and my manager has set my objective to pass an exam to get a certification (*sigh*).
Doing this is very tiring as I run my own servers in my spare time (For learning) as well and have a persona life too. All the revision is in my private time.
Hence, I want to take leave either before I take the exam or after (if before probation) to rest given the stress involved.
However, is it legally possible to take leave during probation? And even if it is, the other question is would it look good? However, my health has to come first. Objectives should not be something that is achieved just at home. The way it seems is that the employer gets his/her way - has a probation period for me to make me feel like a criminal, likely can't take leave, set any objectives with no regard for resources (though this company does provide training where necessary), and just 5 days sick leave (is that even fair in a permenant job?).
Your thoughts appreciated
Thanks
HiI am currently on probation at my work. All is going well. However, I work in IT and my manager has set my objective to pass an exam to get a certification (*sigh*).
Doing this is very tiring as I run my own servers in my spare time (For learning) as well and have a persona life too. All the revision is in my private time.
Hence, I want to take leave either before I take the exam or after (if before probation) to rest given the stress involved.
However, is it legally possible to take leave during probation? And even if it is, the other question is would it look good? However, my health has to come first. Objectives should not be something that is achieved just at home. The way it seems is that the employer gets his/her way - has a probation period for me to make me feel like a criminal, likely can't take leave, set any objectives with no regard for resources (though this company does provide training where necessary), and just 5 days sick leave (is that even fair in a permenant job?).
Your thoughts appreciated
Thanks
I assume you're on "probation" due to unsatisfactory performance, rather than the 12 months "probation" which is sometimes applied to new staff?
What you do in your spare time is irrelevant to your employer. If it's making you tired and therefore having an impact on the quality of your work you need to decide which is more important to you (Work or running servers/having a personal life). BTW in "professional" careers where you have to pass examks it's quite common in the early years for your life to be purely work and exams.
In answer to your original question - your annual leave entitlement should not be affected by the fact you are on Probation. Subject to your company's policies you can take it at any time in agreement with your line manager.
In the grown up world, work can be tough and demanding, and you may be stretched. Your right to take leave is based on the contract you agreed with the employer, subject to your minimum holiday entitlement guaranteed by statute.
Have you asked your employer for a break before the exam? If the employer says no, it may be looking to you to deal with pressure. That's a work thing. Success sometimes requires a bit of sacrifice in your personal life. Rewards may come later.
Have you asked your employer for a break before the exam? If the employer says no, it may be looking to you to deal with pressure. That's a work thing. Success sometimes requires a bit of sacrifice in your personal life. Rewards may come later.
Have you talked to your boss yet? I can't see any issues he might have with you taking a couple of days of annual leave before you sit the exam, given you are putting in your own time to study for it.
To be honest , it sounds like you don't like the job that much, seeing the probation as a punishment period, rather than the opportunity for an extended interview. Do try not to use the five days sick leave - this isn't the public sector, so it's not extra holiday.
To be honest , it sounds like you don't like the job that much, seeing the probation as a punishment period, rather than the opportunity for an extended interview. Do try not to use the five days sick leave - this isn't the public sector, so it's not extra holiday.
Some of you appear to be labouring under the misapprehension that you go to work in order to have a really lovely time.
Dudes, you can do this as Capitalism 101, or as Marxist Labour Theory of Surplus Value 101. Same result. The employer is trying to make a profit. One of the key routes to profit is the use of employees. The basic idea is to pay them less money than they make for the company, and to get them to do stuff whilst at work. If you want cuddles, go home to mom. HTH.
PS: I am self employed, so my boss is a ****, and my workforce is useless.
PPS: I am not Mr Gradgrind. I am in fact a screaming lefty pinko tree hugging yoghurt knitter, but a realistic one.
Dudes, you can do this as Capitalism 101, or as Marxist Labour Theory of Surplus Value 101. Same result. The employer is trying to make a profit. One of the key routes to profit is the use of employees. The basic idea is to pay them less money than they make for the company, and to get them to do stuff whilst at work. If you want cuddles, go home to mom. HTH.
PS: I am self employed, so my boss is a ****, and my workforce is useless.
PPS: I am not Mr Gradgrind. I am in fact a screaming lefty pinko tree hugging yoghurt knitter, but a realistic one.
Hi All,
I mean leave as in holiday leave.
I am on probation as this is a new job.
To the person who said think of it as an extended interview, that is a great way to think!! A bit more positive spin on it etc. Thanks. Fortunately, my manager does/has asked me about whether I enjoy the role so if it is an interview, it certainly isn't a one-sided one.
To the person who said it'd look bad to ask for leave as it'd look like I can't manage my time, I guess that is true but I need to sacrifice my professional commitments and think of myself too. I probably won't ask for leave but I will just be realistic about when I can sit the exam. This exam will have no bearing on my job performance, though there is stuff to learn from the revision.
I am also not a junior or graduate. I am in the first few yrs of my career, but experienced (so mid-level, not senior).
Any other points appreciated.
I mean leave as in holiday leave.
I am on probation as this is a new job.
To the person who said think of it as an extended interview, that is a great way to think!! A bit more positive spin on it etc. Thanks. Fortunately, my manager does/has asked me about whether I enjoy the role so if it is an interview, it certainly isn't a one-sided one.
To the person who said it'd look bad to ask for leave as it'd look like I can't manage my time, I guess that is true but I need to sacrifice my professional commitments and think of myself too. I probably won't ask for leave but I will just be realistic about when I can sit the exam. This exam will have no bearing on my job performance, though there is stuff to learn from the revision.
I am also not a junior or graduate. I am in the first few yrs of my career, but experienced (so mid-level, not senior).
Any other points appreciated.
Our contracts state that holidays should not be taken during probation periods. This is to allow for training and to make sure we can fully assess the persons work and fit within the probation timescale.
However, if someone has a prebooked holiday, or needs study leave then they only have to come and have a chat. Something can usually be sorted.
I would be expecting them to perform well in the exam if I did give study leave.
Communicate with your boss is my advice
However, if someone has a prebooked holiday, or needs study leave then they only have to come and have a chat. Something can usually be sorted.
I would be expecting them to perform well in the exam if I did give study leave.
Communicate with your boss is my advice
I work in IT. Having to take exam certifications is part of the job unfortunately.
I had to pass 4 IT certifications (5 exams) all within about 6-8 months, with all revision being done in my own time. I also have a private life with things I like to do at weekends and during evenings. I just worked flat out to get all the revision done. I didn't enjoy it but that's just the way things are. I never took time off despite working 5 days a week 10 hours a day as well as doing on call cover at weekend and evenings.
The positives outweighed the negatives though. I received a pay rise and endless praise from my boss for putting all the hard work in.
I had to pass 4 IT certifications (5 exams) all within about 6-8 months, with all revision being done in my own time. I also have a private life with things I like to do at weekends and during evenings. I just worked flat out to get all the revision done. I didn't enjoy it but that's just the way things are. I never took time off despite working 5 days a week 10 hours a day as well as doing on call cover at weekend and evenings.
The positives outweighed the negatives though. I received a pay rise and endless praise from my boss for putting all the hard work in.
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