Should I tell work about a booked weekend away now?

[Bweave]

I need to get some advice.

My partner booked a weekend away for us for next weekend. It was a last minute thing about 2 weeks ago he booked it. I meant to tell the office but I never got a chance to do it. Basically flying late Friday night and coming back Monday night.

I know if I was to tell the office now I will be scolded. Big time for not giving more notice.

My hours on a Friday is usually 1 to about 8 or 9 or 10. I could go in earlier and try and finish earlier but I know if I go into work at all, there isn't a hope in hell they will let me off early. It's not going to happen. We would really have to be on the road by 6.30 for a long drive to the airport.

So what do I do. Do I notify the office tomorrow or will I lie and maybe pretend to be sick next Friday and Monday or will I lie again and say I have a funeral to go to up the country. Maybe someone of my partners family or something or another. Just a lie.

If you’ve already told the couple you help you won’t be around then you can’t really throw a sicky can you? That could easily get back to the office at some point

Can you say in passing about how you are looking forward to the break away and when work look puzzled, say that you had sent in your request at least 4 weeks ago and assumed it was OK? Worth a try.....or say you had definitely discussed it with someone senior and say they must have forgotten to log it. Tbh if you have told the couple you work for that you wont be going to them, there isn't really another way of swinging this...

Legally, you only have to give twice the duration of the leave plus one day. So you are still within the legal time frame. However:

1. they are still within the timeframes to reject it
2. your employment contract may require longer notice

Given it’s 2 days, a week away, and it’s been booked as a surprise, I’d let them know and get it booked off. Any reasonable employer wouldn’t have an issue and would be happy for you.

Dependent on your line of work, you presumably also have all week in advance to get ahead with any work so you’re not behind the curve when you get back on Tuesday morning.

Just be honest, they may scold but that's it- if you lie and say you are sick you will need a sick note and could easily get caught out- same with claiming you are going to a funeral- which wouldn't give you both days anyway.

Just tell them. Say its a last minute surprise from your other half, which it is.

It will be inconvenient, but if you get caught out, its gross misconduct and a sackable offence.

Your integrity is important.

She can say she was gardening / relaxing in her garden.

So you can’t lie about it now can you? Why did you tell them but not the office?

You don’t tell the office, you ask for holiday, it it can’t be granted then it can’t be granted. Such short notice means it’s problematic for your employer, and it’s not an emergency where you would need to take leave. I have zero sympathy here btw, your partner has caused you a problem that means you are considering lying to work. He should have discussed it with you first so you could have the time off approved before booking. I would have just said no to him for him being so presumptuous.

Your line manager can complain for the short notice and give you a lecture about it. Your line manager can decide not to authorise the leave, if it's not in the businesses interests.

Only you know your line manager and employer. Would your line manager have a moan at you, but authorise the leave? Or would they moan at you and not allow the time off?

If the latter go sick, if not then you apologise profoundly for the short notice and take being moaned at.

Tell the truth. DH has organised a weekend away as a special celebration, you’re really sorry for the short notice. You are happy to come in on Friday and work till x time (I would make this 2 hours earlier than you really need to cover) and make up your hours another week or cover for a colleague. You wouldn’t ask if it weren’t for a special occasion etc.

Do you get paid for all the late hours you do? If not, then you're simply taking time off in lieu ....

Meanwhile in the real world you can’t just announce you are taking time in lieu because it suits you. These things, if applicable, still have to be arranged.

I think you are being selfish and unreliable. You are paid to do a job. You will be letting down your customers (as well as putting pressure on your colleagues to cover you). I get its a "surprise trip" but your partner must know when you have to work and to get time off there are rules to follow?

Weird surprise from your DP if he knows it’s hard to get time off at short notice.

Be honest, say your partner bought you this weekend break as a surprise, say that you've told him never to do it again without giving you time to book leave, and ask if they could please let you have the time off as a one-off.

Paid or unpaid, don't lie, it never looks good and always catches up with you.

or say you had definitely discussed it with someone senior and say they must have forgotten to log it

Tell a lie to try to make someone else look bad? Nice.

Someone I knew told their boss they were sick, went on a weekend to a hotel and saw another manager was there. On the Monday she was called in to the office and was sacked.