got job interview at short notice, current boss very upset

[eragon]

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?

But back in the real world....

Looking I work in the public sector, always have for several different employers, and I would not expect leave for an interview to be treated any differently from any other leave request - I need to make the request in sufficient time (at least a week in advance) and it will only be granted if my being off wouldn't result in short-staffing or the cancellation of work I'm scheduled to do.

That the leave is for a job interview is totally irrelevant to the current employer and they are completely within their rights to reject the request if it would negatively impact on work.

I've never been refused time off for an interview

I've never rang in sick because part of getting a new job is getting references from your current employer & your sickness rate is always asked about

I take it as annual leave

It doesn't matter what she needs the annual leave for, the employer is entitled to deny it on the basis of being short-staffed and not being given enough notice. As the OP hasn't come back, we are assuming that she works in a profession where she could be replaced by agency staff at short notice. That may not be the case and, even if it is, many companies have a very limited budget for any kind of agency staff. If you work in the public sector, you should be only too aware of budgets being cut beyond belief to the detriment of even core services at times.

I'm honestly, genuinely surprised!

I ran interviews about 18 months ago. We saw the first person at 9:30 and the last one at 4:30. I worked late to fit them all in.

Is it really the case that if one of them had called and said 'my boss won't allow leave; can I come in at 6:30? I should have agreed to it?

My team have always been quite open about attending interviews. Hell, I ran interview training for one of them following a series of rejections because she couldn't work out why it was happening.

I simply cannot imagine refusing annual leave to them if they're looking for another job.

Now I know, I shall certainly be more power-hungry.

i think it depends on the kind of industry/sector you're in, though

e.g. if there is a natural progression where you do a stint in a certain role and then are eligible for the next role it makes more sense that people will be open about applying for new jobs and will ask for the support of their current supervisor in that respect

or like teaching, where references and cover will need to be organised in advance (and you will likely know whether you have been offered the position at the end of the day)

others will be more competitive, or you might be signalling that you are unhappy in your job, or they might be more commercially sensitive. you would be much more cagey in that situation

Looking It's not about being power hungry, it's about keeping things running. If you were doing an important piece of work on a Wednesday and a member of your team that you needed to be there to deliver that asked you on Monday for the Wednesday off for an interview what would you do?

1. Let them go and cancel the day of interviews you were supposed to be running - thereby inconveniencing you and all the interviewees

or

2. Say "sorry" that doesn't work as I need you at work on Wednesday, which your team member clear already knows

or

3. Spend some of your very limited budget on employing a temp for the day and hoping that they arrive either with all the skills you need or can be trained in matter of hours to deliver the work you need

So, Looking, have you ever given time off for an interview where your clients/business suffered material loss because of it?

Do you think it's fair that your clients/business suffered material loss because one of your employees was looking for work elsewhere?

It's one thing if you to cover for an employee at your own expense because you think it would be right for them to be given the opportunity to attend an interview (eg give up your day off, swap, work late, cover their work as well as yours), although I don't think your employee should expect you to do this.

It's quite another thing for you to expect clients/the business to suck it up.

I would never tell my existing employer I was going to an interview. I've always booked it as annual leave.

I've worked in the public and private sector and I don't think I've ever come across anyone who's actually blatantly asked for time off for an interview. I mean, why would you? Some things are best kept quiet especially in the cut throat workforce at the moment.

'Is it really the case that if one of them had called and said 'my boss won't allow leave; can I come in at 6:30? I should have agreed to it?'

Well, if you really want to see that person, yes. I've done it when recruiting, turned up for very early or late interviews because the person can't get away during the day.

We are a small firm. If someone is off, it seriously effects our work. Last minute requests are very difficult for us so it's for emergencies only - an interview is not an emergency. While we are paying people to work for us, we expect our needs as an employer to trump their need to find a new job. People have always managed to attend interviews any way. I think it's extremely unusual for a current employer to inconvenience themselves to let their staff attend external interviews.

I've never told my current boss or colleagues that I'm interviewing either - and I've both attended, and stayed to perform interviews late (by late I mean 7:30/8:30 - well out of the standard working day)

but I really want to live in Lookings world, and I have to say that any employee of mine I'd want to be happy and have success in life so I'd be pleased to accommodate any request I could.

I'll admit, I usually mop up any inconvenience myself. I cover their work - it's not ideal, but like I say; that's life.

For me it's the same as when one of them calls in because they're ill/their child is ill/they have suffered a bereavement.

It's life - it happens, and we have to make contingencies for it.

Like I say, I am surprised that this isn't universal. I have learned something new today.

This, and how to pronounce 'Featherstonhaugh'. Mumsnet is a wealth of information!

I can only think of one occasion, apart from redundancy, when someone asked for time off for an interview. They were relocating to another part of the country which employer knew about.

Looking - what you describe is not the norm in private sector. No way would anyone tell their employer they were planning to leave. What if you don't get the job? Most bosses would not take it well at all.

The company offering the job are at fault here for not being flexible. I had to turn an interview down once because they just would not budge on the time an I couldn't get time off.

i have never been unlucky enough not to be able to do an interview time that had been given to me. but it could happen as i do need to travel for work and i could have an important (external) meeting scheduled. if it wasn't something that i could cancel then i would ask whether the interview could be rescheduled and would be very disappointed if no accommodation at all could be made, but i realise that that would be the risk i would run

What if you don't get the job? Most bosses would not take it well at all.

This happened to me in my first proper job post university. He didn't take it well, but I needed to relocate to London, and I wasn't prepared to not move just to suit him.

As it happened, I didn't get that job. He hired my replacement anyhow, and ended up paying both of us for about 9 months as I didn't turn in my notice.

In my industry you never ever tell your employer you are going for interview and as taking time of at short notice leaves the business very exposed. We are an industry that if someone is sick half days etc will be cancelled too.
So if as a potential employer you really want to meet with a candidate you will interview on Saturdays, Sundays and in the evenings - I have done all of these.
The last recruitment I ran there was a candidate who I really wanted to meet we had to reschedule on three occasions and ended up meeting on a Sunday morning. I did employ them so it was worth it.

I should say, my experience is clearly clouding my judgement.

First job - private sector. Like I say, the transition between jobs didn't go well.

Second job - public sector. My boss and I worked well together, and I was open about applying for jobs at my dream organisation. He supported me, but I really was only applying for that one place. I didn't get the first job I applied for, but got the second.

Third job - private sector. Dream organisation lived up to my expectations. Again, they knew I needed to relocate at the end of my time there, as the commuting was ruining my health. They were supportive, and I got time off for interviews (as annual leave) when needed.

Where I am now, they are completely set up for staff development, and they put a lot of money into training, up-skilling etc. Two people in my department are taking professional qualifications, and are expected to move on when they've got them. My current boss is always disappointed about people moving on, but would never stand in someone's way. My previous boss (different department) had a reputation for throwing massive tantrums when his staff moved on. He is generally considered to be out of order.

I must just have been very, very lucky.

theatre nurse: I'd like to book two weeks annual leave to go to Marbella

charge nurse: But we'd have to employ agency staff!

doesn't work, does it?

I always use my interviews as "sick days" or "doctor's appointments". Never tell your employer that you are looking else where because if you don't get it, it'll back fire on your when you have to stay.

i would never take sick leave for an interview. apart from anything else, if you got the job and were asked for your sickness record it would be very obvious!

PigletJohn, the key phrase here is "at short notice".

Theatre Nurse: "I want to go to marbella for 2 weeks leaving tomorrow even though the holiday book is full and we're short staffed"

Charge Nurse: "No"

Works fine.

I actually work 2 part time jobs, and 1 is finishing so have been for other interviews that I have managed to fit in with not clashing with this position.
I don't get paid annual leave and am working in a teacher type roll.

This job interview takes all day, and I only applied for the job last week, so didn't have time to inform my employers of the possibility of my absence. If I get past the first day I get a second interview the following day. I am hoping that the timing does not clash with this job, or that I have some flexibility.

I understand totally why employer is not happy, I would be the same. Wish I could change this but I will not give up this chance for a job I have dreamed of.