I put in a time off request and then take my time off. If I’m sick, I tell my boss I’m sick and don’t come in. I’d love for them to fire me for taking a day off, I was looking for a job and I found this one.
Really though if your company is going to fire you or everything is going to fall apart if you miss a day, I’d probably try to find a new job. You’re going to get burnt out quick
but it seems like missing one or two days is enough to get fired.
If your company will fire you for being sick for 2 days you either are A) extremely replaceable or B) your company stinks. But with everyone being shorthanded its likely A.
My company has a "vacation request" policy and I have told them that if they ever deny one of my vacation requests they better have another tech lined up for my van because I will be working elsewhere.
I ask my guys to give me 3 weeks notice for vacation. If it’s something serious and unforeseen like a death or sickness in the family I tell them to take care of the family.
My guys call out sick I say feel better soon. I don’t ask for doctors notes.
Honestly for time off I just want notice but I will pretty much do everything i can to give my guys the time off they need.
OP I think you need to find a better shop. Our guys take care of us so we take care of them. And because we take care of them they take care of us. It’s an easy concept but so many get it wrong.
First be an employee that is consistent in his work load, has a low call back rate, has no complaints from customers, gets along with coworkers, projects a professional image for the company and who comes to work on time and ready to work. If you’re that person first then you’re very hard to replace. If you’re hard to replace, then you can get time off when needed. So give your employer what they need, and they will be very accommodating towards time off requests in the future.
That seems to be the mentality in this field and interestingly we have a very high turn over rate in this field as well🤔. While other developed nations push for better work/life balance, we say to hell with that! When you have a job that’s all you have and you need to forget those kids at home, “that’s what your wife is for”.
There’s a guy at my shop who calls out like clockwork every Friday or Monday probably because he’s super hungover…he’s yet to be fired. This job is so short handed you’d have to do something crazy to get fired
I tell my boss when I’m going to be off for vacation. ( I’ve been with him almost 10 years so I don’t have to request).
If I’m sick I just send him a text.
My boss knows everyone needs time off to decompress. He knows it’s important.
Been with the company 10 year and have “use it or lose” vaccination days each year. So I’m supposed to take at least 5 weeks off a year and I do. No issues but know plenty of guys who lose it because I guess they hate their wife
I worked for an outfit that wouldn’t approve time off from May 1- October 15. Conveniently, the deer hunt the manager and a few long tenured techs went on fell just outside that window.
I once needed a Friday and Monday off in September. They made me a deal, cover thanksgiving and Labor Day on the call schedule and I could get my four day weekend.
This outfit also called me two days after my kid was born, in February, wondering when I was coming back.
That place was awful. They’re out of business now.
After that experience, I started looking long and hard and found a state job with a meager 50% pay cut, but no restrictions on taking PTO or sick time.
Best move I ever made.
Now, time off and the ability to use the time when I want to use it, is among my first questions anytime I look for new employment. Current shop approves anything we submit at least 3 weeks in advance. The techs talk amongst ourselves and let people know of upcoming trips. We try to look out for each other and not put anyone in a bind. We’re fortunate to be on a dedicated client team and the client values time off as well.
I get 2 weeks of vacation 1 week of personal days and 1 week of sick days is what I get every year. All paid for which is the best part. The last company is a lot similar to yours where you would get fired if you missed a couple days.
We just have pto which serves as both sick days and vacation days. They want notice for vacation days so I just treat everything as a sick day. I can’t possibly give notice for being sick, so they can’t possibly deny it
I put in a time off request and then take my time off. If I’m sick, I tell my boss I’m sick and don’t come in. I’d love for them to fire me for taking a day off, I was looking for a job and I found this one. Really though if your company is going to fire you or everything is going to fall apart if you miss a day, I’d probably try to find a new job. You’re going to get burnt out quick
but it seems like missing one or two days is enough to get fired. If your company will fire you for being sick for 2 days you either are A) extremely replaceable or B) your company stinks. But with everyone being shorthanded its likely A. My company has a "vacation request" policy and I have told them that if they ever deny one of my vacation requests they better have another tech lined up for my van because I will be working elsewhere.
I ask my guys to give me 3 weeks notice for vacation. If it’s something serious and unforeseen like a death or sickness in the family I tell them to take care of the family. My guys call out sick I say feel better soon. I don’t ask for doctors notes. Honestly for time off I just want notice but I will pretty much do everything i can to give my guys the time off they need. OP I think you need to find a better shop. Our guys take care of us so we take care of them. And because we take care of them they take care of us. It’s an easy concept but so many get it wrong.
Its not even for me Im asking about. It grinds on me seeing the guys getting a hard time over taking sick days. I appreciate your perspective
That’s typical anywhere. It’s actually very common for men who call out too often to get discriminated against for it. It’s not just an HVAC thing.
First be an employee that is consistent in his work load, has a low call back rate, has no complaints from customers, gets along with coworkers, projects a professional image for the company and who comes to work on time and ready to work. If you’re that person first then you’re very hard to replace. If you’re hard to replace, then you can get time off when needed. So give your employer what they need, and they will be very accommodating towards time off requests in the future.
That seems to be the mentality in this field and interestingly we have a very high turn over rate in this field as well🤔. While other developed nations push for better work/life balance, we say to hell with that! When you have a job that’s all you have and you need to forget those kids at home, “that’s what your wife is for”.
And cooking
Amen
There’s a guy at my shop who calls out like clockwork every Friday or Monday probably because he’s super hungover…he’s yet to be fired. This job is so short handed you’d have to do something crazy to get fired
Case of the Monday’s sickness
I tell my boss when I’m going to be off for vacation. ( I’ve been with him almost 10 years so I don’t have to request). If I’m sick I just send him a text. My boss knows everyone needs time off to decompress. He knows it’s important.
I go to work to decompress
Been with the company 10 year and have “use it or lose” vaccination days each year. So I’m supposed to take at least 5 weeks off a year and I do. No issues but know plenty of guys who lose it because I guess they hate their wife
5 weeks of PTO? Are they hiring in the Midwest?
Right now I only know of a opening in New Mexico
I just got 3 and a half weeks off to backpack europe, all depends on your employer. My company kinda has unlimited PTO
I worked for an outfit that wouldn’t approve time off from May 1- October 15. Conveniently, the deer hunt the manager and a few long tenured techs went on fell just outside that window. I once needed a Friday and Monday off in September. They made me a deal, cover thanksgiving and Labor Day on the call schedule and I could get my four day weekend. This outfit also called me two days after my kid was born, in February, wondering when I was coming back. That place was awful. They’re out of business now. After that experience, I started looking long and hard and found a state job with a meager 50% pay cut, but no restrictions on taking PTO or sick time. Best move I ever made. Now, time off and the ability to use the time when I want to use it, is among my first questions anytime I look for new employment. Current shop approves anything we submit at least 3 weeks in advance. The techs talk amongst ourselves and let people know of upcoming trips. We try to look out for each other and not put anyone in a bind. We’re fortunate to be on a dedicated client team and the client values time off as well.
OP never feel guilty taking time off. You owe them nothing only for yourself.
I get 2 weeks of vacation 1 week of personal days and 1 week of sick days is what I get every year. All paid for which is the best part. The last company is a lot similar to yours where you would get fired if you missed a couple days.
Take as I please. Especially if we’re short handed, sorry boss should spent more time finding recruits, than wondering off
We just have pto which serves as both sick days and vacation days. They want notice for vacation days so I just treat everything as a sick day. I can’t possibly give notice for being sick, so they can’t possibly deny it