Do I HAVE to tell my boss??

It probably depends on what your contract says and what the laws are in your part of the world.
In general I don't think you should have to provide specific information but your contract might state that paid days off are only for sickness or for carer's duties or similar.

I think it depends on the situation. If it's a last minute situation telling them the reason is just a courtesy. If you're telling them well in advance you should only need to tell him you need the day off.

In this situation, I don't think he should have to have a reason, but I think he would be justified in refusing to allow your co-worker to work an 11 hour shift, which might mean that you can't have the time off. Is there someone else who can cover you? Or, if he's a reasonable boss, then I would tell him that you dont want to work 6 days straight and would like to swap with someone.
If your work has a policy about shift length, then the co-worker shoud probably have refused.

I only agreed to work because I was the only person who *could* cover his shift. The thought that I'd be working 6 days straight came after I agreed to cover his shift. Unfortunately, none of my coworkers are flexible to work anything other than what they're scheduled. I'm the only one with flexibility, and I don't think it should be so damned difficult to get a day off when *I* cover for everyone else and no one else can cover me... one of my coworkers called in twice this week, didn't bother to cover her shift, no doctor note or anything... and here *I* am, I HAVE covered my shift, which is my ONLY responsibility, and I get *kitten* for it. Why do I have to justify taking a day off? That's my question.

there's your answer to your boss-just word it a bit more diplomatically. you are being a team player and helping your co workers, now you would like to have some time off and would appreciate someone to help you out.

what are your state laws? And policies in the employee agreement. Here we have an "at will state" so if you xhosenot to answer u could get fired :-) really depends on the laws. You don't ever HAVE to say why..... you may have to i u want to keep that job though

It's probably due to increased liability because of them working more than they should. The problem here seems to be that you've swapped your shifts, not WHY you've swapped your shifts.

I think it comes down to the fact that your boss schedules when people are working, and it's not for you to rearrange other people's shifts.

You should ask your boss up front is it ok for you to ask someone to cover your shift and then it's up to him if he agrees to let you. You don't know what he has planned around certain members of staff being there.

If you want a day because you are ill then it's up to you how much information you give but just bear in mind how not going in will look and affect your employment.

You definitely need to reread your employee handbook with regard to 'time off/requested days off"...

I can definitely understand why the managers are upset over you asking an employee to cover 12-3 when they are already scheduled 3-11. That probably puts them into overtime pay - and overtime might require management approval.

In the real world, it depends on the employee handbook that you read and signed, the laws to which govern where you are and whether or not you really want to keep this job and how flexible you are willing to be to follow those rules.

I live in New Hampshire - they can fire you for no reason whatsoever. Its extremely difficult to prove wrongful termination here.


Where I work (I work in healthcare), we have 'earned time'. Every pay-period (biweekly), we earn 8 hours of time off. So, each month I earn 16 hours to use for anything and everything. Sick time, personal time, inclement weather. Thankfully they pay us for holidays. If we are scheduled on a holiday to work (one that is not recognized and requires you to report to work), we get a holiday-differential rate (usually another 2.00/hr). All they ask is to give a two-week notice in writing that we need a day off. They do not require a reason when we give them a two week notice.

When they DO require a reason is when we are not following the two week notice rule, and it better be a good reason.

Our HR department reserves the right for medical-related absences to dictate when we can come back to work as well. If we dont have a formal clinician letter stating when we can come back, we DONT come back. Often times, we lose our jobs if we are unable to account for the time out.

Because you are making a last minute effort, from what you described in your post - you failed to address this concern with your manager - and in the circumstance you describe, yes - your managers have a right to know why. Its a last minute change that affects the shift, the employees, their ability to schedule, etc.

If you really want to keep your job, you will follow whatever rules you signed and agreed to following when you were hired.

By the way. I wasn't picking on you. I have three daughters. I would tell them the same thing. And have.

You're only 25. "Burnt out" is not a reason to be undependable at work. It's motivation to pursue a career that you enjoy.

This! Six days a week and you claim burnt out? That's life. And your boss may have plenty of reasons to not want you to rearrange the schedule (11 hours might give that employee overtime that the company didn't account for and cannot pay).

Whenever you take time off tell him it's 'women's issues', that usually shuts them right up. lol

Whenever you take time off tell him it's 'women's issues', that usually shuts them right up. lol

I knew it!!!

Working in that kind of industry, working long shifts 6 or more days a week is the norm. I have friends who are waitresses or bartenders that work 4pm to 3am 6-9 days in a row. It sucks but they appreciate the day off they finally get even more, plus think of the money you will make!

I think in this case your boss is being reasonable and maybe you could trade that person for a different day off. I get 10 vacation days a year and this is the first time in 6 years that I am actually able to take a full week off for vacation. The only exception was when I had my son in 07' and took only 3 weeks off work, 2 paid with my vacation days and one week unpaid.

There are more than one issue in your OP and not enough info. In the work world you need to look at the big picture and your company policies. A job is more than about your needs, it is about the needs of the business and your agreement to follow their guidelines. In my book - if it is not illegal or immoral you should strive to follow management's requests. A six day work week should not burn you out unless you are doing it over a very long time. Try working a 21 days 12 hr shifts commuting an hour and half each way while still nursing, then I might feel some empathy.

My longest work week was 47 days working two full time jobs and that included weekends, people who called out and they couldnt get anyone to come in to cover , I also covered for people such as yourself who wanted a day off against the rules for requesting that time off, and overtime was mandatory at one of the two jobs...

Ive worked two full time jobs for the last 18 years, now since having an empty nest (Im 37), I no longer have to work two jobs, I just have one.

I work 40 hours minimum. I have a 15 minute commute to the gym, I go to the gym every day at 4:30am workout for two hours, 20 minute commute to go to work, shower and change at work, work my shift, 20 minute drive home, get home to cook dinner, do laundry, prepare meals for the week, pack my gym bag, pack my work bag - AND, I also perform as a musician with two practices per week and multiple concert performances at night on top of everything I mentioned.


Six day work week is nothing... not unless you are going out every night, partying late, or out and about with friends every night, etc...