Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

got job interview at short notice, current boss very upset

47 replies

eragon · 23/06/2014 14:45

Asked if I can change time of interview, but its an all day affair, and if I get past that stage, will have to take next day off as well.

boss very upset as we are short staffed, due to holiday leave and I am concerned about that...but I really want to go to this interview.

I am sorry its such short notice but I didn't expect to get to the stage of getting an interview for this job.

am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

BitterAndOnlySlightlyTwisted · 23/06/2014 14:48

Why does your boss know that it's an interview that you need to go to? Considering the circs I'm not surprised that they are hacked off

SirChenjin · 23/06/2014 14:49

No, YANBU. I can understand that it's a PITA for your manager, but unless someone will die as a result of your attending the interview then I'm sure your workplace will cope for one day.

They are not legally required to give you the time off though, so if they are giving you the time off at short notice during a busy time I would make sure that you acknowledge this

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 23/06/2014 14:50

Why didn't you just book leave or call in sick?

allisgood1 · 23/06/2014 14:51

As an employer I would be incredibly pissed off if you gave me short notice to attend an interview for 2 days, letting down my company and all my clients who your absence would affect. YABU.

sleepyhead · 23/06/2014 14:52

Does your work normally give time off at short notice for any reason even when it doesn't suit the business?

I think you're very lucky if your boss isn't just saying no, and that if you don't turn up for work as contracted that it will be a disciplinary matter tbh.

Stokey · 23/06/2014 15:20

I would never tell my current employee that I was going for a job interview. I would either take a day off or call in sick.

I think YABU for expecting them to let you have a day off.

HermioneWeasley · 23/06/2014 15:23

They don't have to give you the time off

Unexpected · 23/06/2014 15:31

Are you a teacher? Otherwise I don't know why you would have told your boss about the interview. Maybe you are not being unreasonable in wanting the time off for this interview but neither is your boss being in any way unreasonable to be fed up that they are being left completely under-staffed if they let you attend - and no, they don't have to agree. Why such short notice re the interview? Surely the prospective employer must realise most people can't drop everything at short notice for two days?

Soggysandpit · 23/06/2014 15:37

If you are on a short fixed term contract then I believe you have the right to the time off (though IANAL etc) but not if employed permanently

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 15:44

Really? When did all this change?

It used to be that your boss has to release you for an interview, no matter how inconvenient or how long the interview. It's not unusual for interviews to be at fairly short notice. That's life.

splendide · 23/06/2014 16:01

It has never been the case that employers have to give time off for interviews has it?

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 16:06

Really? So your current boss has the right to sabotage your future career? That surprises me.

PetulaGordino · 23/06/2014 16:07

are you a teacher? that's one of the few professions where you would tell your boss you need the time off

PetulaGordino · 23/06/2014 16:08

don't call in sick

Fairylea · 23/06/2014 16:08

Why did you tell them you had an interview? I'd never ever tell a present employer I was even considering another job until I had a solid job offer. I can understand why they are upset.

sleepyhead · 23/06/2014 16:08

Why should your current boss care about your future career? Your current boss has a right to expect you to fulfill your contractual obligations, no more, no less.

I think there's an exception for redundancy, but otherwise you find a new job in your own time (or like most people, take annual leave/unpaid leave/call in sick on the QT if you think they'll be unsympathetic)

Redcoats · 23/06/2014 16:09

Looking - I've never heard of that ever. I wouldn't even tell close mates at work I was going for an interview just in case.

Unexpected · 23/06/2014 16:13

Lookingthroughthefog there is no "sabotage" involved here. People who go for job interviews so so at the beginning or end of their work day or on their day off or they apply for a half-day or day's annual leave. In teaching it is normal to tell your current employer that you are attending an interview (if only because teachers do not normally take leave during the school year and also because the new school may ask for a reference from the old in advance of interview). In most other professions, it is not normal to need to tell your employer that you are interviewing for a new job.

The OP here needs potentially two days off at short notice (I am assuming possibly some time this week) and her employer is perfectly within their rights to say no, given that they are short staffed. If the OP asked for annual leave for any other reason at this kind of notice, they would probably also say no. If they had two weeks notice of the interview, they could apply for leave int eh normal way and probably have it granted. No-one any the wiser about what the time is for.

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 16:15

Meh, I work in the public sector where we're treated as people and not possessions.

Refusing to release an employee for an interview is utterly immoral. You're basically saying 'you're my bitch until you die'.

PetulaGordino · 23/06/2014 16:17

i wouldn't tell anyone in my job - after all, if i don't get the position then i'm telling my boss that another employer thinks i'm lacking in some way and that doesn't put me in a very good position

Teeb · 23/06/2014 16:17

Or they are just saying 'do it on your time' no?

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 16:17

they apply for a half-day or day's annual leave.

I should say - I would assume it would be taken as annual leave. But the annual leave should be granted if it's for an interview.

People who go for job interviews so so at the beginning or end of their work day

What if you're not lucky with the time slot? The people running interviews might well be seeing six or seven that day.

or on their day off

And if you work 9-5 Monday to Friday?

sleepyhead · 23/06/2014 16:18

Ok, public sector example:

Theatre Nurse: "I want 2 days off to go for an interview"

Charge Nurse: "But we've got no cover. If I let you go we'll have to employ agency staff (£££) or cancel surgery, so no."

Theatre Nurse: "How dare you treat me as a possession and not a person!"

Charge Nurse:

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 16:19

Or they are just saying 'do it on your time' no?

Just to reiterate, I would assume annual leave would be taken.

I admit, I assumed from the OP that she'd asked for annual leave, but because they are short staffed, had it denied. She needs the annual leave not for lying on the beach, but for a job interview.

LookingThroughTheFog · 23/06/2014 16:21

we'll have to employ agency staff

And there's your answer.

Flip

1 2