ot - time off work for an exam = NO!!! update :)

summergurl

♥3 Years Maintaining♥
So I work mornings, 6:15am to 11:15am and i am in my final year of uni and so have my final exams coming up.

First one is tuesday at 4pm, next one thursday at 1pm and then my final one is Wednesday the 20th May at 9am.

Now, i have asked 2 managers that i have had for the time off and my now manager got back to me this morning and said no they wont allow you the time off. You have to wait untill the day before or on the day and see if we can let you leave early!!!

I am so angry and disgusted by this. Especially since there is a flexibility agreement that if the mail volumes are very high then they tell us we have to stay half hour after our shift!!!

Now, i am flexible for them and theyre not being flexible now for me!

I was also told this morning that 2 people in another team had an exam today and they cancelled their exam and are going to retake it - my response was "well you think i can cancel my FINAL exam of my uni degree? NO!!!! this is the final year, you are not allowed to retake anything, you cannot just cancel your exam!!!!!!!!!!!!"

I told my manager, well i wont be in on the 20th of may so theres your heads up, you know where i will be.

Now i am playing a waiting game to see if someone who has that day off would give it to me, if not i will be having the day 'unauthorised absence' (even though they know where i will be) and will be disciplined!!!

Now my question, does anyone know if a buisness is actually allowed to do this? I know they have to let you go for doctors apps, dentist etc but for an exam im not sure - i always thought they had to.

Its basically my job or my final exam - i guess ill have to look for another job :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
God this is terrible!
I'm not sure what the rules are but you could certainly do without added stress when you have your finals looming couldn't you?!
Maybe someone will step in and rescue you before next week :)
What are you studying?
x
 
I hope you get this sorted out. How about approaching the managers again. Explain that you've been flexible with them and how long you need to take the exam. Stress to them it's a final exam for your degree and see how you get on.

Good luck.
 
Poor u that is awful. Not sure on the laws or rights but wouldn't they only need to give you the time off if you were studying through the company you are working for. I could be wrong there.
I think its disgusting that people have had to change their exams. Even worse that you are going to be disciplined for doing it.
 
Awww honey! Thats is absolutely disgusting! And for other people to have CANCELLED their exams...are they mad? For the sake of a job? Employers are usually flexible with things like this, especially if you are a good employee which you clearly are! I just don't understand why they would take that stance with you It's ridiculous! I know exactly what your feeling like, the pressure from exams anyway, and its your finals, if they still refuse to give it you off i'd be telling them where to stick it! I'm shocked at that! Hope you get it sorted chick!x
 
God this is terrible!
I'm not sure what the rules are but you could certainly do without added stress when you have your finals looming couldn't you?!
Maybe someone will step in and rescue you before next week :)
What are you studying?
x

I could yeah - but i work for a big company that only cares for the amount of bums on seats each day!

Studying criminal justice studies with psychology.

I hope you get this sorted out. How about approaching the managers again. Explain that you've been flexible with them and how long you need to take the exam. Stress to them it's a final exam for your degree and see how you get on.

Good luck.

I have done chick - and this has been the answer! I have a couple days off now but if it isnt sorted tuesday i will be going straight to the big boss (mdec manager) and giving her what for!

They know i will only need to have 3 hours of that day off - 3 hours!!!!!!!!! I have been there nearly 5 years but yet they wont allow me to go take an exam!

Awww honey! Thats is absolutely disgusting! And for other people to have CANCELLED their exams...are they mad? For the sake of a job? Employers are usually flexible with things like this, especially if you are a good employee which you clearly are! I just don't understand why they would take that stance with you It's ridiculous! I know exactly what your feeling like, the pressure from exams anyway, and its your finals, if they still refuse to give it you off i'd be telling them where to stick it! I'm shocked at that! Hope you get it sorted chick!x

I think its disgusting too!! I cant believe anyone would be that much of a push over to cancel their exam - i wanted to find out who it was and ask them what they were playing at!!!!

My manager was so lucky she walked away when she did - i couldve gone on argueing with her till i was blue in the face. I was just so shocked that this was the response i got :cry:
 
Oh that is just dreadful. Do you have any holiday time to take for that morning/afternoon? Can you not "bank" the hours in advance? I can't believe they are not flexible in this most important time for your future. Have to contacted ACAS??
 
Are they still considering it ?

If not, just go to your big boss tomorrow. Go prepared and explain that you are in your final year of university. During studying you have also shown committment to your place of work and are willing to make up the time taken to sit the exam. Explain how important this is to you and what qualification you are going to achieve.

Good luck.
 
I have 6.5 days holiday left outstanding so its not as if i am asking for holiday i dont have! they are meanies!
 
They are indeed. I do hope it works out for ya.
 
Sorry you bosses are being t!ts Tanya :( Hope something gets sorted before then but I don't think I'd want to continue working for an employer that treated me like that :mad:
Good luck in your exams x
 
They sound like my last job (which I ended up walking out of). I would speak with someone further up the food chain, and express your disgust with the way you have been treated.
 
Whats acas?

I am back in work on tuesday and now after speaking to my bf (who also works in the same place but on night shift) i have decided to see if anyone who has that day off will give it up for me, if not then i will be going above my managers manager and straight to the head boss and speaking with her.

I will be outling that on nightshift if the person has a train to catch they are allowed the night off before hand so they are not tired catching the train in the morning - now comeon!!!! they are allowed a night off for catching a train the following day but im not allowed a few hours off for my final exam?!!!!!!!!! discrimination i think?!

And if the head boss still says no i will be writing a letter, explaining everything, everyone i spoke to all the responses i recieved and outlining that i will not be in for work on the 20th may as i have my final exam of my 4 year university degree.

What do we all think?
 
Definitely a good plan IMO - can't believe the night off thing! **shakes head at the injustice**
 
Update

Ok so here's an update for anyone interested:

I have managed to get the day off for my exam thanks to a nice woman in my team who has that week off :)

We had a team brief this morning with our shift manager and she was saying about having half day annual leave on the day etc and how it works and if its important then go speak to her etc so me and my big mouth pipes up:

So what do you class as important then? I have my final uni exam ever on the 20th may but your not allowing me leave to enable me to take my exam and better myself and my career ....

The response was: but there is no holiday that day and the buisness needs you. So i said so somebody's university degree isnt important enough for you to be able to grant special leave or anything? The answer that was covered in cotton wool and bull crap was 'no'. I just said "shocking, absolutly shocking!!!!"

Then after that brief the little old lady spoke to me and said well i have that week off but i dont mind cancelling the wednesday for you :) dear of her. I had a saturday booked in october that she swapped for so all has turnt out ok!
 
Please tell her that you have a whole bunch of friends who want to say Thanks to her for being so considerate giving up a day in the middle of her annual leave.

I also think you should get some legal advise maybe call Citizens Advice as this cannot be right. Do some research on emploment law etc. All the very best with the exam too x
 
Yes, definately follow it up, glad you got the day off for your exam. Im doing criminal justice degree too the psycology bit your doing to sounds interesting. Good luck and hope your exam goes well.
 
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