[givemeadviceplease]

I have been with my boyfriend for almost three years and all the while he has been fighting to become a Marine Officer. I want to marry this man. His graduation means so much to me and our relationship, it pains me to think that I might not be able to go. I recently graduated from school and just started my full time position at a CPA firm which is my dream job. I have been working my ass off to get to this point! I am thankful every day walking into that office. Anyways, my boyfriend’s graduation is March 17th. Right smack dab during busy season. Plus it is across the country. It is on a Saturday. Do I dare ask if I can miss a Saturday off work even though I just started here? When do I ask? Who should I go to? Do I plead saying I will work 12 hour days until that Saturday? My plan is to leave Friday night 11:30PM then watch the graduation Saturday, come back Saturday night and go to work again Monday. Any advice, this is so important to me. Thank you!!!

[Bourne]

Yes, ask off work like tomorrow. The sooner the better. Just explain to them the situation and how much it means to you. Tell them you'd be willing to work extra on top of the already extra that you work to make up for missing the day. But by all means, ask for the day off. If they're compassionate and care for you then they won't mind. If they blow it off like your job is more important than a big life milestone then do you really wanna work there anyway? There are plenty of CPA firms.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Bourne. This will be an excellent way to see how your firm is with “work/life balance”. I would talk to a senior that you work under/with or a manager if you feel close to one.

Something else I noticed people at my firm do when they will be out- they send an email out to the people they work closely with saying something how they won’t be in but can answer emails during their time away, etc… If you are in the middle of a client project, talk to the manager on that project and let them know you’ll take care of it when you get back and ask them what you can do before you take off on Saturday. Keep them in confidence.

Actually you might be surprised but the people you work with, managers, seniors, partners do actually want to see that their co-workers have a life outside of work. This is what makes people personable and approachable. They shouldn’t mind at all. Just don’t make it a habit and be the hard worker that you are.

GL

[r00shine]

I would not see why you couldn't. Unless you work for a really small firm that literally could not do with you being gone for a day, there should not be any problem. Even at a big4, people on my team take time off during busy season for one reason or another fairly commonly and there's never an issue.

[Go.For.Broke]

@givemeadviceplease I think your firm would be pretty cold-hearted to not let you off on a Saturday to go to your boyfriend's graduation. As other posters suggested, definitely put in your request as soon as possible. I used to work for a CPA firm, and – though we worked Saturdays during busy season – it was a lot more lax. If you had somewhere you had to be, they'd usually understand.

Every firm and situation is different, but hopefully you get that Saturday off!

[Recked]

I don't see a problem with taking the Saturday after the March 15th deadline off.
Let them know asap, but with plenty of notice, and a full month before the April 15th deadline, they should accommodate your request.

[Sir Plus]

no, don't ask for PTO ahead of time, you will look bad. First busy season and you're already taking days off? come on now.

Don't tell AYNONE, pretend to be sick Friday afternoon, and call in sick Saturday/Sunday. Mgmt can't question sick days 🙂

Enjoy your BF's graduation.

[Recked]

And then you can't post any pictures of you being at graduation on social media.
And what happens if your return flight home gets delayed or canceled.

Take the high road. Nothing like calling out sick and being caught in a lie.

Chances are if you are going to marry a Marine officer, you will be following him to whenever he ends up stationed so I would consider your accounting job temporary in all likely hood.

[Go.For.Broke]

Don't lie to your employer, as suggested by one of the responders. Have some integrity. Ask them if you can take that day off and for what (truthful) reason. If they say “yes,” take it off. If they say “no,” don't.

[Sir Plus]

Recked and everyone above make great points though. Who knows

One ex-staff took vacation during his first busy season, and everyone remembered him for that. Staff and Seniors could ask “why isn't so & so here?” which could create a false impression of you, from your team. Partners/Senior Managers may remember that when it comes time for raises. You have to ask yourself what's more important, money or work/life balance.

Most people would argue work/life balance.

I like money, however.

[Sir Plus]

don't pretend to be sick. Good luck!

[Go.For.Broke]

@Sir Plus good most recent post and points. I think that it comes down to taking Lawrence (from Office Space)'s advice:

LAWRENCE
We still going fishing this weekend?

PETER
Nah. Lumbergh's gonna make me come in this Saturday. I know it.

LAWRENCE
Well, you can get out of that easily.

PETER
Yeah, how?

LAWRENCE
(Gets up)
Well, when you work on an Saturday, he generally asks you at the end of
the day, right?
(gets a beer)
So all you have to do is avoid him –
(peter offers him a bottle cap remover)
That's all right, i got one –
(he gets on from his pocket)
The last few hours of the day. And turn off your answering machine, you
should be home free, man.

[givemeadviceplease]

Thank you all very much. I appreciate it!!

[Author]

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