This Is Why I Can't Have Nice Things

[serinde]

Or, In Which A Bolt Drops From The Heavens This Afternoon:

To all ICIT Staff:

The first day of classes for the fall term is August 27. In line with ICIT policy, 
staff may not take annual leave time or other voluntary time off (personal days, etc) 
during the week before or the week of the start of classes. This year the block starts
August 20 and ends August 31. Please note that labor day is Monday, September 1. 

Why do I care? Because I really wanted and needed to go to Burning Man this year. It is exactly what my mind and spirit require. And, because this "policy" was in no wise communicated to me, nor is it written anywhere that I can find; it's just one of those things that Everyone Knows But No One Thinks To Tell You. I grow excessively weary of that class of things.

Comments

[arkham1010.livejournal.com]

asking staff not to take vacation time in the middle of august is a really shitty thing.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe, but it's very common in the academic universe. Most institutions on semesters start around then.

[fivetonsflax.livejournal.com]

Just flout the policy. Tell them you had already made your plans, in ignorance of the policy. What are they going to do, fire you?

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Plan on having a long fever.

Of course, i think i'd rather get sick than go to Burning Man.

[spride.livejournal.com]

You had a long-standing arrangement, that predates either your employment or the communication of this restriction to you. Go. And, if you have any sense, don't come back.

[otherwise-nyc.livejournal.com]

I think you should go, too.

As everyone else has pointed out, you has got plans. That predate your employment, and *them telling you stupid shit*.

Go go go.

**hug**

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

This is why we can't go too.

Join the "move the man back a month" campaign! Teachers, educators, etc. unite!

[(Anonymous)]

This sort of thingy is exactly why they agreed to move Pennsic back a week. Rare for so many disparate folks to agree on anything.

Sounds to me like you can go, given the source of one of those responses! Say Yay, trip to the alkali desert!

[jayeye.livejournal.com]

The real problem is not what your management can do to you; it's what they won't do for you in the future (raises, promotions, references, that kind of stuff). Another problem is that your cow-orkers will hate you because they'll get stuck with your "share" of the work. You may or may not care about that.

That said, I don't think there are any unemployed IT people in NYC, even in this economy, so you can always tell "I'm going on vacation in August; it's up to you whether you want me to come back".

[briony530.livejournal.com]

What everyone said...ask...it can't hurt. Or get sick, in which case don't ask, 'cause then they'll know.

Tell them there's a wedding you're in and can't miss. That sort of obligation usually carries weight.

Also, come up and visit me and we can go to Woodstock and be silly.

[syringavulgaris.livejournal.com]

I had just booked the dates in the group calendar that morning. I think I cannot finesse this one.

[briony530.livejournal.com]

Bummer. Who do we know with a big backyard...?

[caelfinn.livejournal.com]

Booking in the calendar some *three months* ahead of the dates in question is just a courtesy to your employer and cow-orkers. It doesn't mean you didn't already have plans and maybe even plane tickets (non-refundable ones at that, right?).

You wouldn't be lying if you said you have been planning this trip since *before* you accepted the position. If you ask, all they can do is say no.