Manager won’t let me go to my wedding

[Biggobyboo]

I’m a mature student (Master’s degree) and I’ve previously worked in professional office jobs. I’ve recently started a part time job on a make-up counter to earn some pin money and to get me out of the house. I always thought it seemed like a fun job and I like skincare and cosmetics.

When I sent back my contract to HR I mentioned I had my wedding coming up and a week off for my honeymoon. They said that was no problem.

I started the job and discovered my manager has the week of my honeymoon booked off for a holiday and flies out on my wedding day. The full time assistant is being a bridesmaid at another wedding that day so there is no cover in the store.

My manager said I cannot have the time off. I thought she was joking so I said “sure, I’ll just re-arrange it for the following week then!” She said that I should make it at least a couple of weeks after HER holiday. I explained that it wasn’t possible to cancel my wedding and she said it was a shame I wasn’t showing my dedication to the brand and being a team player so early on in the job. No more has been said as she has gone off sick so it’s just me and the other assistant. I can’t do too much (paid) overtime as I’m studying so she’s being funny with me. I’m contracted for 15 hours a week but I’m doing 22.5 hours currently to cover. The brand is recruiting for another part time assistant.

So should I just hand in my week’s notice now or wait until the week of my wedding? If I leave now, the other assistant will have nobody else so there will be no cover. The store is open around 60 hours a week but I’ve noticed the other brands leave their counters unmanned a lot of the time where they have no staff.

If I leave just before the wedding there will still be no cover for that weekend.

Any ideas? I’ve never worked anywhere this crazy before!

I’d leave now, seems like an awful manager to work for

You haven’t discussed it with HR?

I’d contact HR who agreed to the time off initially. They should arrange cover from another store.

Contact HR or the person in that dept you agreed the time off with. Explain the situation and see what they say.

If they come back to you and say they can’t stand by their original agreement quit whenever it suits you.

If you told them about it before you accepted the job they have to honour it. I personally wouldn't work for someone with an attitude like that though.

I would just quit. She sounds like a nightmare

I’d call hr/head office and remind them you informed them of your wedding at interviews. I’m sure they must have cover staff from other locations.
If it’s a department store I’ve often seen say benefit staff serve from the ysl counter etc.

Tbh I'd quit now. If you leave it to the last minute and leave them really up the creek you may get a bad reference.

By all means speak to HR, but I personally don't think it's worth the stress for 15 hours a week.

It's not crazy, is it? You started a job without getting your annual leave authorised in writing. That's no one's fault but your own.

You'll have to resign, it's up to you as to when you do it.

This is not your problem. It is her problem. She is the manager. HR have already agreed the holiday.

Just quit. It sounds badly run. This won’t be your last problem!

You were clear from the beginning that you'd need the time off.

I'd pursue that as far as is reasonable. If they refuse to budge then I'd resign at the latest possibly point. Why make it easy for them?

Surely jobs like that are ten-a-penny if you've an ounce of intelligence and some experience.

Enjoy your wedding!

Honestly, I’d just quit

Talk to HR. Do you have any evidence that they agreed it e.g. e-mails?

They have to honour it, its not up to the manager

Its not a career for you so just quit. You don't need a job like that and working for a manager who is so deluded she thinks getting married and going on honeymoon shows lack of commitment will always be a nightmare

I would speak to HR and, as other PPs have said, give notice if they don’t stand by their agreement.

They sound like cunts. Say nothing more and go off 'sick'?

doesn't look like a role you could not get elsewhere. Unless you really depend on the money (doesn't sound like it), I would leave immediately and not even bother with a notice.

I cant believe she thought you were serious when you said you would change your wedding date 😂

Resign. Your wedding is more important than this.

I have the email back from HR before I started the job confirming my annual leave was okay.

I rang HR and they said someone will come back to me.

I don’t need them for a reference and wouldn’t put the job on my CV. It’s very different to the jobs I used to do. I’m glad I tried it but it’s not something to be made into a long term career. Most of the customers are very nice but it’s quite a boring job on my feet all day and lots of cleaning the counter as there is nothing else to do. The pay is low so I’m not too bothered about leaving. Just feel awkward!

I would quit now as well.

Some places are advertising for Xmas staff already.

I cannot believe a "manager" would act like this. Atrocious. I agree, just quit.

Also, there's a breed of manager that dislikes people doing the job they've made their career part-time while they study or train for something else - they take it as an insult to their life choices. I worked at a supermarket when I was doing my A levels and some of the supervisors were like this, they made sure I was rotated on whenever I had an exam just so they could yell at me about being "difficult" - I got told I would lose my job if I went to my chemistry exam, so I walked out mid shift, fuck that.

I'd just leave a resignation letter of the counter, walk out and not bother going back.