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Submitted by sophie74 on
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Hello all,

I have been offered a new position in my department last Friday.  Today, my "new" boss asked me if it was possible to push back my vacation (AUG 8@24).  My partner and I had planned these 6 months prior (house rentals appox3000$ CAN for 2 weeks).  I told him I have to see if we can cancel the rental without fees and that my partner agreed to push is vacation too.  Unfortunatly we find out we cant cancel the rental.  I feel bad about that and have to give him an answer tomorrow.  Any thoughts, solution, point of view would be more than welcome.  Thanks. 

shellandflame's picture

The question I'd ask myself is how much organizational capital do you have?  If you've been offered a new position, it's clear they value you.  Are you an A player the department can't function without?

How's your relationship with the new boss?  Are they someone you've worked for before and have a good relationship or is this starting fresh?

How long was the vacation known about?  Has it been on the calendar since you put the deposit down 6 months ago or did you just put it in this month?  Technically, since the company giveth the vacation, they can take it away.  That being said, it's not a great look for one of the new boss's first actions to be asking you to move something that has been planned for 6 months.

Why are they asking you to move the vacation?  Is it to train a replacement or train up on the new job, things that don't seem time sensitive?  Or, is there a push for a project everyone needs to pitch in on?  Are others being asked to re-arrange schedules?

Sorry I'm not providing answers, just more questions.  There's a lot to consider.  Were it me, I'd be pretty firm about not moving the vacation.  You're going to forfit a significant financial sum as well as the mental strain.  Unless there's a very compelling reason, the boss should be very understanding.  From a manager standpoint, unless the business is going to shut down, I'd never ask an employee to move/cancell vacation.  I worked for a very hard charging, type A micromanager for a couple of years.  He had no problem calling me at all hours for the smallest of tasks.  But, if someone was on vacation, unless it was going to have a significant financial impact that the Street would notice, he wouldn't touch that.

sophie74's picture
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Thanks for the reply it was very helpful.  It is a position that did not exist before and I have to start from scratch down.  This is the reason why this was asked of me.   I had 2 weeks of vacation.  I was able to cancel the last week of our vacations but not the first due to the high amount of the fees.  As result I am keeping the first week and my boss was happy and thanked me about that.  And yes I confirm it was mentally straining.  My partner accept to cut the vacation in half.  It was not easy for him.  Hope it's the last time I have to go trought this kind of situation.  Thanks again!  Sophie