need advice for r/o work for party planning HELP!

**BewitchingHalloween** · 05-30-2011,08:49 PM

Hey everyone! So about a month ago I started a new job. It seems they aren't excited about people requesting off on wknds

With my halloween parties I usually finish things up friday night until sat am and like to take things down the sunday after my party... My plan is to have a party oct 22 I'm really nervous to ask for this off knowing they will not understand my love for this wonderful time of year! What would you guys say if you had to request off?? would you say hey i need to partay?? lol I don't know how that would go over with! Should I say something else for that wknd?? I know we have a meeting this week so I dont know if i should bring it up now?? so maybe it will look better since it gives em a few months? please help I get heart burn stressing about this. If I can't have my party I will want to jump off a bridge! lol EEEK! thanks everyone

**Stochey** · 05-30-2011,09:25 PM

I usually request off for Friday and Saturday of the party and I usually say that I have friends visiting from out of town... especially for Friday. This is completely true as a lot of my guests drive 1-3 hours and spend the night... a couple always get to my house later on Friday and spend Friday and Saturday night.

'Friends coming in from out of town' would probably work for you too right? Not everyone who comes lives in your town do they? :-)

**Frankie's Girl** · 05-30-2011,09:27 PM

My work knows I'm always going to be off the week around Halloween because it's my anniversary and I do a huge display and need that time off to set up and take down. My boss even goes so far as to not schedule anything for me during that week, since it is a given I'm going to be out.

You've got a little while to settle in to your work and get to know folks before putting in the vacation request, so I'd wait until end of July before making the request for the time off. That way, you'll know folks pretty well, they'll know you pretty well and you can bring up how you do a big to-do every Halloween for the neighborhood kids and how much everyone looks forward to your house. (you're laying the groundwork for "I'm taking off that time of year!" without being all in your face about it). Minimize the party aspect and play up the cool neighborhood setup.

Still mention you do a party, especially if you plan on inviting some folks from work, but it's not the MAIN reason you are excited about Halloween, you know?

In the mean time, make sure you're not taking off a bunch right around the same time as you're making the request for October... the less they remember you being out sick or taking off right then, the more receptive they'll be to the idea of you taking a couple of days a few months later.

If you make the request towards the end of July or first of August, you are giving them PLENTY of notice and they should be able to see you're a valued employee and not give you any grief for wanting to have a few days off to celebrate.

It is no different than someone requesting time off for regular vacation to do whatever. If you are really uncomfortable, just remember you don't actually have to tell anyone what you're doing - you can just tell them it's a yearly family thing planned and leave it at that.

**BewitchingHalloween** · 05-31-2011,06:56 PM

thanks guys! i appreciate it!! we will see how it goes!
yeah i've been saying yes to all these schedule changes and working my butt off and not taking any extra days off so they will be more receptive!