So the school year is coming to an end. I just found out this week that my kids are having graduations. My daughters is just small get together as it’s a lower grade and I put in the request to a vacation (still waiting for the results but since there was a spot open I should get it).
My other child has a grade 8 graduation need tickets to attend and a bit of a bigger deal or at least it was for me when I was in school. He’s in Jr high so I don’t know if it’s as big a deal as I remember also where I grew up we didn’t have Jr high. Anyway his graduation fell on a week that everyone usually requests off.
My ex and I are separated and my kids usually see me ever second weekend. I wanted to be there for the graduation. I know I personally didn’t actually care about the graduation ceremony when I was in school but I was aware my parents were psyched for it so I still understood the importance for them.
Advised one of my bosses about it and she totally understands and said not to fill out a request for vacation as it will be denied and just call in saying I will be absent and things will be fine. Slight attendance infraction but it’s not to much of a big deal especially considering I’m rarely absent.
After work I decided to talk go HR about anything that could be done in regards to it. I forgot that HR only cares about you if your problem is about something that isn’t directly the company. If it’s the company they will do everything in their power to keep you fucked over. They told me that if a vacation can’t be booked because there are no spots available that if there is ANY reason you are not working that day that you are the one at fault. I know that is somewhat a lie because if I’m sick and get a doctor note it would be non-culpable absence.
I asked what would happen if I don’t show up as this is important for me and my kids. She said I would be at fault and I told her my attendance is usually great so it shouldn’t be a big issue if I have that happen to me.
So I’m still going to my kids graduation. Told my Ex to get a ticket.
Don’t you love how you can be with a company for close to a decade have only taken 2 vacation days so far (we do have 2 weeks of shutdown so I’m not working all the time.). Also only missed 13 days due to illness in all this time. 5 of them was due to covid and 3 were due to the legally allowed paid days off for the vaccines. So that’s only 5 culpable absences in almost 10 years and only taken 15 working days off. Been denied a few days in the past as everyone snatches up the summer days. It’s first come first serve and since I don’t know when I need time off I tend to leave it to chance. Only reason I do this now is because this is a one time thing for my kid.