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Original poster

Surprise holiday - New job

21 replies

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 19:57

DS has an interview in the morning for Tesco. He’s taken a year off uni and is really excited about this job. It’s earning more than his current wage and it’s better hours.

I’m worrying as with his current job, he has holiday time accrued. So DH and I have booked him a trip to New York as a Christmas present. It’s five nights (not including travel time) in February half term.

DS doesn’t know to mention this at his interview, as we wanted it to be a surprise.

Do we tell him, or do we let him (hopefully) take the job without informing the interviewer about pre-booked holidays.

Any managers views particularly interesting.

Thank you.

OP posts:

SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 05/12/2023 20:00

It’s very short notice to not know, I assume now it would be a January start?

A shame as a lovely surprise.

Workingmumlife1 · 05/12/2023 20:02

Chance of getting school hols is like gold dust. It will be approved if disclosed at interview. Tesco colleagues can request leave for apr 24-25 already!

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:02

I’m not sure when he’d be required to start. I guess he’ll find out tomorrow. He’s hoping for pretty immediate to be honest.

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Falalalalaa · 05/12/2023 20:02

Can you tell him you have something planned and he’ll be away those days but not tell him the details?

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:02

Ah crap.

That’s so gutting. His big Christmas present.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:03

Falalalalaa · 05/12/2023 20:02

Can you tell him you have something planned and he’ll be away those days but not tell him the details?

I could I suppose.

OP posts:

Overthebow · 05/12/2023 20:06

Yes I think he’s need to tell them at interview. Although surely he must know something about going away or how else do you know he’s free on those dates?

Brackhurst · 05/12/2023 20:07

Oh, OP, that does suck. I know it’s not the same but could you tell him you have something far less exciting planned (obviously just interesting enough that he’ll engage, but not New-York-exciting)? Then it keeps part of the surprise at least and he doesn’t have issues with declaring the dates tomorrow.

Loopytiles · 05/12/2023 20:07

I wouldn’t mention it at interview. Would tell him after the interview and he could then request the time off if offered the job.

If they say no he will need to decide between the job and holiday - been there (though I’d booked and paid for the holiday myself) and chose the job.

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:08

Thanks everyone. We are trying to think of a reason for him to book those dates off.

OP posts:

FunkyMonks · 05/12/2023 20:09

Tescos are awful company to work for unless your son is willing to work all the hours they throw at him or work more than the hours they stated at the interview all the best.

I applied for a job and got the job with them it was advertised as part time 16 hours thought perfect fitted in with my child care arrangements at the time but because I wouldn't do any over time I was let go they expect a lot of the staff to do extra and more hours despite being so called contracted to set hours.

In this instance I would tell your son about the surprise trip so that he can inform them at the interview in case he runs into issues later on with getting the time off.

SwishSwashSwooshSwersh · 05/12/2023 20:09

Wait for him to be offered the job and in the acceptance email he needs to state there’s a pre booked holiday on x date. Tell DS you’ve booked him a visit to Skegness then do a reveal on Xmas day as planned

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:24

Thanks all.

Just called him down and said that I hadn’t mentioned it earlier as I didn’t think he’d get time off. But with him starting a new job, perhaps he’d like to book time off to come to my husband’s cousins wedding in Ireland over half term.
I said he could make the decision if he wants to join us or not, in the new year, but if he books the dates off, then he at least has the option.

I think he’s a bit suspicious, but I’m not sure he’d guess New York. I wrote the dates down for him to give them tomorrow.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 20:26

Overthebow · 05/12/2023 20:06

Yes I think he’s need to tell them at interview. Although surely he must know something about going away or how else do you know he’s free on those dates?

He never plans anything to be honest. Doesn’t go out a lot as all him friends have already gone to university this year.

OP posts:

Tumbler2121 · 05/12/2023 21:24

Just tell him about New York. He can look forward to it instead of you coming out with fibs about something else that he may not want to book time off for.

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 22:05

Tumbler2121 · 05/12/2023 21:24

Just tell him about New York. He can look forward to it instead of you coming out with fibs about something else that he may not want to book time off for.

He’ll know about it in two weeks and have another 8 weeks to look forward to it. DH and I think it’ll make Christmas Day special for him.

If we tell him tonight, what’s to look forward to, for Christmas… and the excitement will last all of 5 mins.

I’ve bought New York themed Lego and gifts for Christmas, an American Tourister Spider-Man suitcase and the Spider-Man guide to NY as well as a scratch card type plane ticket thing to disclose where he’s going. All my planning would be for nothing 😢 So I have to tell fibs for a couple of weeks, but would have preferred to have said nothing.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 22:07

The Spider man interest is in the movie locations. DS is a huge Marvel fan.

OP posts:

Sidebeforeself · 05/12/2023 22:11

What will you do if they say he cant have the time off?

user1471556818 · 05/12/2023 22:13

Definitely tell them at interview about booked holidays as a manager I would honour them if discussed at that point.It also gave me the ability to grant holidays which took me over the weekly allowance
Good luck to him

Original poster

Mumof118 · 05/12/2023 22:16

Sidebeforeself · 05/12/2023 22:11

What will you do if they say he cant have the time off?

I assume if they can’t honour it they’ll tell him at interview or won’t employ him.
It’s not his dream life-time job, so he could decline if they eontBut he’d be happy there (he thinks) until he goes to uni.

OP posts:

idontlikealdi · 05/12/2023 22:20

It's quite normal to have pre booked holiday, he doesn't need to tell them at interview but you need to tell him so he can bring it up when and if he gets offered the job.

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