As a manager, how would you take this?

[misspiggywiggy]

I started a new job 6 weeks ago. I work in a clinical role. I absolutely love it, really enjoying it and it’s definitely ideal for me.

However, my boyfriend has recently received a 6 month season to go and play his sport in Australia, from September. They’ve offered a partner go with him and I have ALWAYS wanted to travel and visit there. I absolutely cannot say no and I am so excited. He hasn’t fully accepted yet; but he will soon.

But, I’m so nervous to tell my bosses (I can’t until it’s accepted). I only started 6 weeks ago, and they’re really good at developing my role. They are offering trainings, meetings etc and timetabling things in past September and I feel so so guilty every time this is happening, because I know I won’t be there.
I can’t even book sessions in with clients as I know I won’t be there.

It’s so frustrating as I love the job and it’s so ideal. I can’t imagine passing up an opportunity like this though, it will never come up again.

I’d love to return there when I come home in march and stay there for as long as possible, but I can’t expect that of them. I can only imagine they’re going to be fuming as it’s a very strained industry I work in as it is.

Im so nervous, how do I approach this?

The other thing OP... How secure are you in your relationship?
Have you traveled together, lived together for a long period of time before...?
What if you break up

Another one here who’d stay in the nice job.

I'd pretty much think you were a timewaster and quite immature.

I did pretty much the same thing, 20 or so years ago, right down to the sporting season funnily enough.

What a fabulous time it was.

I think my working life has benefited from tbh. There were always jobs.

But takes all types - see your comments.

I dont think I’d go, could you do long distance for 6 months? Maybe take some unpaid leave to go see him for a month. But that’s just me as I like my job.

Don't feel guilty. The company wouldn't feel guilty if they had to make you redundant. Loyalty is generally always one way.

It’s a really good job but I wouldn’t say a “dream job”, and I’d much rather go to travel so I have made up my mind.
We’ve been together 3 years, we live together and we have always wanted to travel, it’s the best opportunity to do so!! They can organise work on a farm which may be fun, and we’d be staying with another couple so won’t be too lonely.

Just so nervous on how to bring it up!

No one ever sat on their death bed wishing they had spent more time in the office !
go! This is the opportunity of a life time and jobs come and go. You won’t regret the loss of a job in the future, but you may regret turning down a chance to travel across the world .

Just so nervous on how to bring it up!

You don't always have to please people. Its business.

They're big enough and grown up to cope. They've seen it before and they'll see it again.

Any normal decent manager after the initial eye roll will be saying " I'm bloody jealous ".

And remember, if they had to make you redundant, they wouldn't do it without a second thought.

You have a business relationship with them . You've not pledged your life.

" they would do it"

Honestly speaking as a manager these things don't matter.

We all know people come and go. No one is indispensable and it's a management job to fill those gaps. If the manager as threatened or offended then they don't have decent management skills!

I would say though that it sounds like you may be in health and I know the dynamics there are sometimes different as people, including managers, have more ensconced attitudes to the importance of the job.

In my experience anything more therapeutic, psychology or social work etc, you should be fine!

There is absolutely nothing ‘fun’ about fruit-picking - it’s back-breaking in the searing heat and rain downpours, exhausting, long hours, muscles you never knew you had will be hurting, and pay varies according to the fruit and difficulty picking etc. Try and do some other work instead or at least do some thorough research beforehand.

I’d also be going for longer than 6 months on a working holiday visa if the plan is to fruit pick during the 6 months as that is nowhere near long enough to travel, and giving up a great job here when you’re only going for 6 months and spending a lot of that fruit-picking. Perhaps consider going for longer and work your way through their visa scheme and then you will have more time to work and explore the content plus New Zealand and Asia are close.

So you would give up your current role to go fruit picking??? What is your current job role. Surely you could do similar in Aus?

Personally, you'd be mad to swap a professional role or whatever clinical role you have to go fruit picking in the baking sun! Don't underestimate how tiring and back breaking that work is. I certainly wouldn't say it was a 'fun' job! 🙄

I thought he was being offered a 6 month season playing his sport? If that's the case he won't be working on a farm with you during that time.

Can I just say - as a trade union official - I see time and again how employees are often 'disposable' to companies.

So there is no need to feel excessive loyalty to them after just a few weeks.

Go. Don't apologise too much for living your life - just say you are sorry that the timing is inconvenient but you need to go. You will hardly be the first person to leave a company after only a short while.

Like others I think you have a very romanticized view of a ‘fun’ fruit picking job on an Australian farm. I’m Australian and it’s well known that working holiday makers are treated very badly by some farmers. Depending on where you go the farm may be very isolated and even the nearest town tiny and far from charming.