I’m taking a total of 5 days off scattered between now and June 7th, yet I’m still getting attitude. Can anyone else relate? I’m sick of back office. Had it been up to them, I’d be learning macros on Access/Excel and writing in VBA. Also let me remind you these are my vacation days that I’m using to take a test that I paid for in full.
No, in the past year, everyone in my department (5 people) has taken at least 2 weeks of vacation and I’ve taken none. I’m also using my vacation days for this and gave plenty of advance notice (2.5 months in advance). But yeah, back office sucks!!!
If they are YOUR vacation days, what is the fricken problem? I would completely ignore their attitudes. They are just jealous that you are taking the exam and they aren’t.
KJH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’m taking a total of 5 days off scattered between > now and June 7th, yet I’m still getting attitude. > > > Can anyone else relate? I’m sick of back office. > Had it been up to them, I’d be learning macros on > Access/Excel and writing in VBA. > > Also let me remind you these are my vacation days > that I’m using to take a test that I paid for in > full. I feel you man, back office life sucks. I mostly get critisized for working so hard and that I should be enjoying life. They don’t realize that I am doing this now so that I don’t have to do it when I have a family and a mortgage to worry about. It feels like alot of people I work with have already given up and its quite depressing.
That’s pretty rough. As long as you gave them advance notice they shouldn’t give you a hard time over using YOUR vacation days. My buddy at UNH got hassled by his boss because in April he requested a week off in August, for his honeymoon. It sounds like they couldn’t care less about you doing the CFA. You gonna look elsewhere after the test?
here are 2 letters from 3 letters --> F U
My former boss, generally being the douchebag that he is, gave me crap for taking time off during the holidays. He was insistent that something might come up between Christmas and New Year’s and that since it was the sell-side, I would not be able to take off more than a week at a time. This was after he tentatively gave me the OK to make an overseas trip that would take more than a week, and it was only after the trip was planned that he said I wouldn’t be able to take that much time off. Frankly, I had enough of his attitude and just took the week off that he gave me and called in sick for the remaining couple days I needed off. He knew what my line of thinking was, but I don’t think he could really confront me about it without doing something illegal. (And yes, I would have found a way to procure a doctor’s note if I was ever asked for one.) Bottom line is, when you need to take time off, you should tell them that you’re taking time off instead of asking for permission. I’ve learned that whenever you need to ask, you open the opportunity for someone to deny you that opportunity – which is something that jerks do. Rather, the better way to phrase things would be, “I’m planning to take XX days off during XX. Will you be able to cover for me? If not, let’s find somebody who can.” The other thing I learned from my experience with my former boss is to never get so sensitive to let what other people say or think get to you. People are going to speak whatever’s on their mind, but at the end of the day, you know what you need to do and you shouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of that. (Of course, maybe I was more complacent than other people would be since I already had lined up my job offer on the buy-side, but even if I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t have done things differently. The boss tried to sabotage my vacation for no reason other than to be a jerk, so I had to take matters into my own hands.)
By the way, along those lines, what I noticed about the sell-side is that people often have an unnecessary sense of urgency with the things they do. People in equity research don’t need to work 70+ hours a week and people in banking don’t need to work 90+ hours a week. It’s all just because of systemic inefficiencies , namely the issue of “face time” and the pressure to keep yourself looking busy, when in reality nobody really cares about half the stuff you do. I truly believe that the most pervasive problems on the sell-side are the urge to do mindless tasks that are supposedly “value-add” as well as the general lack of respect for people’s time. I’m glad I don’t have to do that stuff anymore.
StuckinMinn Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That’s pretty rough. As long as you gave them > advance notice they shouldn’t give you a hard time > over using YOUR vacation days. My buddy at UNH > got hassled by his boss because in April he > requested a week off in August, for his honeymoon. > > > It sounds like they couldn’t care less about you > doing the CFA. You gonna look elsewhere after the > test? I sure am. I think they know that too. From the my hire date I expressed interest in the CFA Designation so I do not know why they are acting surprised that I wish for time off to study. Are you going to be in LAX again Stuck?
numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > My former boss, generally being the douchebag that > he is, gave me crap for taking time off during the > holidays. He was insistent that something might > come up between Christmas and New Year’s and that > since it was the sell-side, I would not be able to > take off more than a week at a time. This was > after he tentatively gave me the OK to make an > overseas trip that would take more than a week, > and it was only after the trip was planned that he > said I wouldn’t be able to take that much time > off. > > Frankly, I had enough of his attitude and just > took the week off that he gave me and called in > sick for the remaining couple days I needed off. > He knew what my line of thinking was, but I don’t > think he could really confront me about it without > doing something illegal. (And yes, I would have > found a way to procure a doctor’s note if I was > ever asked for one.) > > Bottom line is, when you need to take time off, > you should tell them that you’re taking time off > instead of asking for permission. I’ve learned > that whenever you need to ask, you open the > opportunity for someone to deny you that > opportunity – which is something that jerks do. > Rather, the better way to phrase things would be, > “I’m planning to take XX days off during XX. Will > you be able to cover for me? If not, let’s find > somebody who can.” > > The other thing I learned from my experience with > my former boss is to never get so sensitive to let > what other people say or think get to you. People > are going to speak whatever’s on their mind, but > at the end of the day, you know what you need to > do and you shouldn’t let anyone stand in the way > of that. > > (Of course, maybe I was more complacent than other > people would be since I already had lined up my > job offer on the buy-side, but even if I didn’t, I > probably wouldn’t have done things differently. > The boss tried to sabotage my vacation for no > reason other than to be a jerk, so I had to take > matters into my own hands.) Thank Numi, I couldn’t agree more. For whatever reason I feel that one should ask for time off rather than take time off. You’re a great asset to the board.
In the UK, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has a rule whereby you have to take 10 consecutive days off. I really can’t imagine only being able to take a week at a time. I mean, what if you actually want to go somewhere far away?! I am spending my next vacation travelling South America.
KJH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thank Numi, > > I couldn’t agree more. For whatever reason I feel > that one should ask for time off rather than take > time off. > > You’re a great asset to the board. I felt this way when I was less experienced in the workforce too, but dealing with a few annoying managers here and there helps you grow up quickly. I also acted in a similar fashion before I found out what I was really “worth,” and that I felt like I owed some type of debt to my manager or my company for giving me the opportunity to work there. On some level, I did, but once I started interviewing and realizing that other places would actually give me a lot of respect and value for the type of work I could do for them, that’s when I realized that my situation wasn’t as good as it could be. And that’s especially the time when one has to learn to step up for themselves. Do note that there is a fine line between what I’m suggesting versus having an unfounded sense of entitlement or rebelliousness. While you *shouldn’t* ask for unrealistic things, you *should* expect people to treat you fairly and give you the time that you need if you’ve been doing a good job for them. The workplace is a symbiotic relationship where both employee and employer must give and take. Personally, I believe that as long as I work hard and get things done when they count (which I always do), I expect people to cut me some slack when I need it and stay out of my way.
good posts numi. did you get myemail? my initials are cc.
numi, i like the way you analysed this. i came to the same conclusion some years ago, and i now view my employer as my client. i don’t have to suffer him if i don’t like them. i have a choice to walk away always and its my responsibility to have options available. no sense of obligation to employer except during the last 5 days of the month after i’ve been paid for that month. the second part of your comment - about the sense of entitlement etc is just as if not more critical - it helps keep things in perspective, and ensures a good reputation, which matters.
does anyone here NOT have experience w/ a coworker who is consistently inefficient and arguably “slow” who gets rave reviews from management just because they are in the office from dawn till dusk. Then their is the other extreme- the one who is talented but doesn’t utilize their full potential because they constantly threaten leaving the firm and therefor sit pretty in their entitlement to do as they please. Seems like its hard for those like to get the job done efficiently and not complain about it are just sort of forgotten…
Yeah, I’ll definitely be there. If our schedules aren’t off this time lets get some lunch. Or at least some cheap coffee in the morning. I still got your # if you got mine. I’d like to hear what you would switch to if you get the opportunity soon.
KJH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I’m taking a total of 5 days off scattered between > now and June 7th, yet I’m still getting attitude. > > > Can anyone else relate? I’m sick of back office. > Had it been up to them, I’d be learning macros on > Access/Excel and writing in VBA. > > Also let me remind you these are my vacation days > that I’m using to take a test that I paid for in > full. F ing tell me about it. My manager is making me take some BS Access class the week before I take the L2 exam. I’m tired of hearing how Schmedley who sits next to me is so awesome because he can do Access queries and write great macros on Checkfree APL. We had our annual meeting last week and our CEO recognized everyone with 30+ years of experience with our company. At first I was surprised that ALL but ONE worked in our operations department. Then I realized what I already knew… there are only two reasons to work in the back office. 1. To get into the industry when you have zero prior work experience. 2. So that you can toil away in mediocrity for year after year after year after year, without ever having to put in the real time and effort that is needed to be successful in this industry.
McLeod81 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > KJH Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I’m taking a total of 5 days off scattered > between > > now and June 7th, yet I’m still getting > attitude. > > > > > > Can anyone else relate? I’m sick of back > office. > > Had it been up to them, I’d be learning macros > on > > Access/Excel and writing in VBA. > > > > Also let me remind you these are my vacation > days > > that I’m using to take a test that I paid for > in > > full. > > > F ing tell me about it. My manager is making me > take some BS Access class the week before I take > the L2 exam. I’m tired of hearing how Schmedley > who sits next to me is so awesome because he can > do Access queries and write great macros on > Checkfree APL. > > We had our annual meeting last week and our CEO > recognized everyone with 30+ years of experience > with our company. At first I was surprised that > ALL but ONE worked in our operations department. > Then I realized what I already knew… there are > only two reasons to work in the back office. 1. > To get into the industry when you have zero prior > work experience. 2. So that you can toil away in > mediocrity for year after year after year after > year, without ever having to put in the real time > and effort that is needed to be successful in this > industry. Hey, what do you use Checkfree APL for? I’m curious because I also used it at my old job, but I thought the people who used it were a specialised group (specialized as in tiny, not elite)
We use Checkfree APL for trading and performance reporting. I work on the performance department at a fairly large regional firm. I know that a lot of smaller firms use APL, as do some larger firms (i think MER uses APL for performance).
yeah, I wouldn’t worry about it KJ. You’ll be out of BO loser land (I’m there too) soon enough if you keep working hard. I hate my job so much my face hurts somedays, no kidding. I thought you were doing L3 in Minnestoa, no?? Me personally, I have memorial day off next week, 3 vacations days the week after and a “cough cough” day or two coming up soon likely. Haven’t had a sick day in over a year, so I may be soon…