I manage a project that has to be submitted to the Board around July / August. The period April - June is one on which my personal physical presence is considered critical. I have previously tried to ask my Boss to see if he can give me 2-3 weeks leave to prepare for Level 2 Exams and his only response is that 'l want my project delivered to the Board' before l can listen to anything else. He is asking me to weekends from now on until way past exam date. I am feeling squizzed both ways - no weekends and no leave. I have to travel a lot and policy says to have a full day off if unless l travel on weekends. He wants all travels to be on weekends with no days off. What can l do to increase my chances of passing and how can l manage this relationship with my boss and hopefully get a few days off?

turn the lights on

Take a look to see what company policy is about leave/work - you may just be screwed and have to comply with everything your boss asks for because even if HR got involved you would most likely ruin your relationship with him.

I would carry my books around and study on the plane, at night while travelling, etc. etc.

Do you have to do all the work yourself, personally? It sounds as too few people are employed. Also: you have to ask yourself what kind of employer it is that will let somebody work 24/7 for months on end. One option is that you stick with the project and prepare to take Level II next year (thus giving you 1,25 years of preparation and adequate time to take steps to change into another firm). OK, so you'll have to pay two fees - so what. Another is that you resign if you are confident that you'll both manage the exam and be able to land another job. Whichever is right is up to you to decide.

MehdiOchre Wrote:
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> Do you have to do all the work yourself,
> personally? It sounds as too few people are
> employed. Also: you have to ask yourself what kind
> of employer it is that will let somebody work 24/7
> for months on end. One option is that you stick
> with the project and prepare to take Level II next
> year (thus giving you 1,25 years of preparation
> and adequate time to take steps to change into
> another firm). OK, so you'll have to pay two fees
> - so what. Another is that you resign if you are
> confident that you'll both manage the exam and be
> able to land another job. Whichever is right is up
> to you to decide.

lots of BigLaw law firms expect their employees 24/7...but then again a first year makes over $150k...so if you're making that cash I would expect to have to commit my life to the job but if not, I would just say NO and adhere to what the company handbook says as you can not be fired for following the handbook...and if you are thats a great wrongful termination suit.

I do not have to work alone on the project - we have a project team and l happen to be the team leader for the project. I am therefore expected to coordinate the work of the team. Thanks for the encouraging comments and assistance.

^ ^

I once worked for an IT consultancy firm and there was this guy who was our team leader, that was actually his title too. He showed up at 9 am (at the earliest) and left at 3 pm (at the latest). In between he drove us mad by checking up on what we did and how we did it. It always felt terrible that we had to work overtime or at least to give a full days work when, clearly, he worked what felt like only six hours a day (including lunch break). It annoyed me very much until I realised that his only task was to make us perform and deliver which he did by throwing in about six hours a day. I still didn't like it, but after realising this, it felt somewhat better.