Although there’s no set standard, giving employees time off is a right any employer must provide. Whatever reason they might have, taking some time away from work is one of the employee’s rights. And for someone new and fresh-faced in the work setting, you must know this fact.
However, that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to leave whenever you want. There are still regulations set in place to keep the workflow operating seamlessly.
Types Of Leaves
As mentioned earlier, there are many reasons why you want to take a leave. Depending on your company policy, here are different time off programs available for you:
- Family Medical Leave
According to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), employees who worked for 12 or so months (with 1,000 and above hours) under their employer are entitled to take a minimum of 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year in dire events, such as:
- An immediate family member has fallen seriously ill and needs care
- Taking the time to recover after a serious health problem
- Giving birth, and
- Bonding with an adopted child
However, despite how significant these situations are, you still need to how can an employer deny unpaid time off in these cases. And it could be due to the workplace not having enough employees. Of course, the number could differ from state to state. But if your employer only has roughly 50 and below employees when you take leave, then there’s a high possibility your employer may deny it.
- Paid Vacation
Although there may be some differences, this is still the most common form of leave provided by your employer. Of course, for someone who’s still new in the workforce, this may sound mind-boggling at first: you can still get paid while taking a break from your boring office.
However, there may be differences regarding how long you can take paid vacation time, as mentioned earlier. Law doesn’t mandate paid-off vacation, because the employer has the reins on who’s qualified for this program.
For a new hire, though, it’s highly likely you might have to wait for approximately 30 workdays before you can request a vacation. Not only that, but you must send a notice ahead of time for your employer to check on how your absence may affect the workflow. Once they give the go signal, you can finally de-stress and recharge—or else you might get burned out after taking on too much work.
- Sick Leave
This applies better if your leave is unexpected. Rather than shoulder the medical bills by yourself—perhaps you sprained yourself as you’re getting ready for work or you suddenly got hit by a fever—you can call in your work to request sick leave.
All you need to do is have a doctor check on you. Once they’re done, request a medical certificate. It contains notes from a medical worker and this will prove why you should still receive your paid leave when you get back to work.
- Time Off For Civic Duties
Compared to a sick leave or vacation time, there’s a likely chance you might not get paid when you take a leave because of civic reasons. These reasons could be you leaving to vote, or your attendance is required in court.
Still, some states may not give you the right to take time off to vote—or if you do have the right, then your employer might allow a number of employees at a time to go and vote. Whatever the case may be, make sure to file a notice in advance if you want to vote, and check on your state’s laws first on what happens if you’re an absentee or if it allows early voting.
How To Ask For Time Off
Asking your employer anything may be daunting as a new hire. So, these are some tips that may help you snag that leave without a hitch:
- Plan Ahead Of Time
Although you must be yearning to catch a break anytime soon, you still need to consider the condition in your workplace. Are you leaving in the middle of the usual bustle, or is it too busy that everyone’s struggling to catch up with the high demand?
If the company’s schedule is too tight to grant you time off, then you might want to hold off on your leave. If it seems manageable, you need to be mindful of submitting a file in advance so your employer has the time to work on schedules.
It’s also recommended not to book a flight or sign any reservations before filing a leave in case it might get rejected.
- Know Company Policy
Since leaves aren’t mandated, expect differences in each company, such as how long you should work there to qualify or how much time is allotted for your leaves each month. However, one rule that may be retained in some states is that the accrued leaves you didn’t use should be added to your salary.
- Inform Peers
There’s no doubt that you taking leave will affect the workflow among your co-workers. So, other than informing your employer, you must also let your fellow employees know you’re taking leave. That way, any changes that might apply in your absence won’t catch them off guard.
Signing Off
People can’t keep working day after day, taking time off from your job is a right for many employees. Knowing when to take a break allows you to practice self-care to work better than ever. So, as someone just hired, you must keep this in mind.
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