Current job won't give the day off for new job orientation.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2010

I have resigned from my current job about a week and a half ago. I have been very unhappy there for a while now. I gave them a month notice and am faithfully finishing it as much as I hate it there. My boss already had my schedule made out before I found out for sure I had my new job. They day I found out I got my new job I gave my current boss my resignation.
So I asked my current boss if I could take one of my unused vacation days to go to orientation for my new job (there were tons of nurses scheduled for that particular day and they will probably wind up calling somebody off anyway) or if she could switch me to another day that week. She acted really rude about it like she wasn't going to help me out a bit. She said she'd get back to me and let me know. What would you do in this situation?
I called the new job and explained the situation and they said they would work around it if I couldn't get the day off but I think this is very petty of my boss. I tried to do things the honest way and ask off instead of just calling in sick that day and she has to be petty about it. It's one of the reasons I am leaving my current job...crappy, petty managers. I know they don't really owe me anything because I am leaving and I guess they are disgruntled about it but still...at least I am trying to be an adult about the situation.
The people there are very bad about switching days or God forbid doing anyone else a favor. So I don't see that happening. They say if you call in sick during your month notice, they can put you down as a no-rehire. My loyalties are with my new job and I'm not letting this current job ruin it though I'm sure the people at my current job would love to see that happen. What should I do? I know the new job said they'd work around it but it still makes me really mad. I lose more and more respect for my current job by the minute. I guess I just needed to vent.

I'll be honest with you...they are not obligated to give you the day off for orientation with your new employer....seriously, think about it...the new job should start when your old one completely ends.

If it were me and I absolutely, 100% needed that day, I just would have called in sick, especially if it was only for one day.

I couldn't imagine going to my old boss with that request.

llg, PhD, RN · Nov 3, 2010

Reading some of these responses, I wonder ... "What ever happened to honor and integrity? Dosn't anybody base their actions on what is 'morally right' anymore?"

Katie5 · Nov 3, 2010

It's petty, true. But why fret?The new job is willing to work with you.So it's all okay. Just be thankful and move on with it.Congrats on your new job:)

Katie5 · Nov 3, 2010

I'll be honest with you...they are not obligated to give you the day off for orientation with your new employer....seriously, think about it...the new job should start when your old one completely ends.
If it were me and I absolutely, 100% needed that day, I just would have called in sick, especially if it was only for one day.
I couldn't imagine going to my old boss with that request.

Why?What's wrong with that.She was being honest, which should have been very much appreciated (and will be) when the old boss gets over her leaving.

She did well.

Katie5 · Nov 3, 2010

When I was in this situation in the past, I told my boss when I needed off. I didn't ask. Unfortunately, since you've already put it out there, I think you'll just have to grin and bear it. Just think how happy you'll be to walk out of there on your last day.

Sometimes it is good to TELL, not ask. :up:

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Nov 3, 2010

Reading some of these responses, I wonder ... "What ever happened to honor and integrity? Dosn't anybody base their actions on what is 'morally right' anymore?"

I definitely used to believe in this. I still follow it.

However, I do not blame others for not following it because there seems to be absolutely no loyalty by employers anymore.

If they treat me fair I will definitely treat them fairly.

NurseFrustrated · Nov 3, 2010

I'll be honest with you...they are not obligated to give you the day off for orientation with your new employer....seriously, think about it...the new job should start when your old one completely ends.
If it were me and I absolutely, 100% needed that day, I just would have called in sick, especially if it was only for one day.
I couldn't imagine going to my old boss with that request.

Thanks for your reply but as I have already mentioned, I CAN'T call in sick because I was told if I call in sick during the 4 weeks notice period I would be made ineligible for rehire. That is why I am finishing out my 4 weeks notice, to be able to write this job on a future resume and be eligible for rehire. Calling in sick would defeat the whole purpose of the notice. That was my dilemma. Therefore I chose to be honest because I needed this day off.

My boss knows I am leaving to take another job so why would it be a huge surprise to her if I need off for an orientation day? They did it for the last nurse who left (gave him a vacation day for his new job orientation) so I didn't think it would hurt to ask for myself. I have two weeks of unused vacation time anyway. It turns out that my boss let me trade a day so it worked out ok. I'm trying to transition into the new job as quickly as possible to keep from losing pay.

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Nov 3, 2010

I definitely used to believe in this. I still follow it.
However, I do not blame others for not following it because there seems to be absolutely no loyalty by employers anymore.
If they treat me fair I will definitely treat them fairly.

Yeah, I pushed DH to give appropriate notice at a job he HATED once because it was the right thing to do. They took him off the schedule immediately.

When employers show us again and again that in the end, their best interests are all that matter to them, why shouldn't we respond in kind?

I think the OP should work with the new job to do orientation after the old job ends, not because that is morally right, but because it's in the OP's best interest to protect that reference as best as he/she can.

GM2RN · Nov 3, 2010

Thanks for your reply but as I have already mentioned, I CAN'T call in sick because I was told if I call in sick during the 4 weeks notice period I would be made ineligible for rehire. That is why I am finishing out my 4 weeks notice, to be able to write this job on a future resume and be eligible for rehire. Calling in sick would defeat the whole purpose of the notice. That was my dilemma. Therefore I chose to be honest because I needed this day off.
My boss knows I am leaving to take another job so why would it be a huge surprise to her if I need off for an orientation day? They did it for the last nurse who left (gave him a vacation day for his new job orientation) so I didn't think it would hurt to ask for myself. I have two weeks of unused vacation time anyway. It turns out that my boss let me trade a day so it worked out ok. I'm trying to transition into the new job as quickly as possible to keep from losing pay.

I'm glad you were able to work this out.

For future reference, someone already pointed out that a new job, including orientation, should not start until the old one is already finished. The new employer should know that and respect it. And although it would be petty of the the old employer to refuse to give a day off in this situation, they have no obligation to do so since your schedule was already done for that period.

Again, I'm happy it worked out, but you, and others, can avoid this problem in the future if you follow this advice.

NurseFrustrated · Nov 3, 2010

I'm glad you were able to work this out.
For future reference, someone already pointed out that a new job, including orientation, should not start until the old one is already finished. The new employer should know that and respect it. And although it would be petty of the the old employer to refuse to give a day off in this situation, they have no obligation to do so since your schedule was already done for that period.
Again, I'm happy it worked out, but you, and others, can aviod this in the future if you follow this advice.

In theory, yes, the new job shouldn't happen until the old one is finished but in this case, the new job only does orientation once a month and I would have to wait about 3 weeks after my current job is completed to be able to do the next orientation and then a week or so after that to start the new job. I need to transition as quickly as possible for financial reasons. I work 3 12 hour shifts a week so I don't see what it hurts to go to the new company's one day orientation on one of my 4 days off on my final week of my current job. I have asked my current boss for this day off 2 weeks in advance. It's not like I sprung it on her at the last minute. I don't see why honesty is such a bad policy. Hopefully I won't need to do this again because I hope the new job goes well and I will be happy to retire there. :lol2:

NurseFrustrated · Nov 3, 2010

I wouldn't have given them a choice to begin with...
I just recently found a new job as well. My current job has been treating me terrible for a while now. I simply told them when I gave my notice that I needed the 4th off for orientation at my new job and that if they could do that then I could give them a months notice and if not I would have to make the 3rd my last day and give them only the required 2 weeks notice. They chose to give me the day I needed off.

I feel the same way you do. I have been treated very badly by my current job and my loyalty to them is waning. I have never left a job without proper notice and I won't leave this one without proper notice either (as much as I don't like it there). However I have to do what is right for my mental and physical health and leaving my current job is what I have to do. I'm trying to juggle the transition from old job to new with honesty. Unfortunately 4 weeks notice is what is required for leaving my current job. I'm glad your job worked with you.