An issue with professional exams and work...
Discussion
I've recently started with a company and the issue of exams came up today. It is expected that you study for a professional qualification and I was told about this during my interview. All fair enough - I wanted to do it anyhow.
The problem is that they have now decided that there are too many trainees and that to have them away over the summer (exams) and also the new trainees would be too much, so the new trainees are not allowed to start on the company paid for course until the middle of next year when some current trainees finish. I'm already paying for the course out of my own pocket and was just about to put myself in for the June exams when my boss said I couldn't due to the above mentioned issue. I asked if it would be ok to take a days holiday to sit the exams and I've been told I'm forbidden to take the exams as it would be unfair on the other trainees.
Does this sound right? It wasn't mentioned at interview that I'd have to wait a year before I could continue learning and to be honest I wanted to get it out of the way.
The company are happy with me paying for it myself as I'd already started before I went and you've got to pay it all back to the company if you leave within a year of the course finishing (and they set how many exams you take in one go so it'll be about 4 years that I'll have to stay which is unlikely) anyhow so I figured I'd just carry on so I had more control over how and when I was learning.
Sounds a bit off to me but it could just be that I'm tired and grumpy and not terribly with it - I'll explain more if I've forgotten anything.
I'm rather unsure what to make of it.
The problem is that they have now decided that there are too many trainees and that to have them away over the summer (exams) and also the new trainees would be too much, so the new trainees are not allowed to start on the company paid for course until the middle of next year when some current trainees finish. I'm already paying for the course out of my own pocket and was just about to put myself in for the June exams when my boss said I couldn't due to the above mentioned issue. I asked if it would be ok to take a days holiday to sit the exams and I've been told I'm forbidden to take the exams as it would be unfair on the other trainees.
Does this sound right? It wasn't mentioned at interview that I'd have to wait a year before I could continue learning and to be honest I wanted to get it out of the way.
The company are happy with me paying for it myself as I'd already started before I went and you've got to pay it all back to the company if you leave within a year of the course finishing (and they set how many exams you take in one go so it'll be about 4 years that I'll have to stay which is unlikely) anyhow so I figured I'd just carry on so I had more control over how and when I was learning.
Sounds a bit off to me but it could just be that I'm tired and grumpy and not terribly with it - I'll explain more if I've forgotten anything.
I'm rather unsure what to make of it.
fade2grey said:
they can't tell you not to do the exams if you are both paying for them yourself and doing it on your own time (holiday\unpaid leave)
Exactly, if you're paying for the course and exam out of your own pocket and taking the exam in your own time (holiday) I can't see how they can prevent you. Whether it's worth any bad feeling that may arise only you can judge. Personally, I'd be happy for an employee to do that, shows commitment and initiative.Perhaps just don't tell them until it is done and dusted.
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