[NYaccountingstudent]

I basically got an opportunity to go on a cruise to the bahamas for free for 5 days but the bad side is I just found out about it and the cruise is in 3 days.

The plus side is im only an intern

Obviously i leaning towards staying in work but i wanted to see what you guys think, its gonna upset me alot knowing i turned down a free cruise (ive never been on one)

AUD - 75
BEC - 78
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - 75

One shot to pass FAR or i lose credit for REG

[impska]

It is different if you have to go to a funeral. Although, I do think you'd raise some eyebrows if you said you needed a week off to go to a funeral – unless it was in some other country.

And I don't know about asking for PTO for the dentist. If I'm working 60 hours a week, it doesn't make a difference if I do the work at noon on a Sunday instead of at 4pm on a Friday.

I don't know what was up with my HR lady back when I heard that from her – since then, countless people have taken sick days because their kids were sick or whatever. Life goes on. No tax emergencies happen just because someone is out for a day or two. I actually once had a partner who went to a funeral on April 13-14. People made do. Returns got finished or went on extension.

Still – I've never worked anywhere that would be fine for me to go on vacation with only three day's notice! That's not a public accounting thing – it didn't fly when I was cashier at a grocery store or when I worked at a university, or anywhere else.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[MintsRGood]

In late January 2012 my husband’s grandfather passed away out of state. We were very close with him and it was devastating to our family. My firm gave me 5 days off to travel to the funeral and support our family, no questions asked. Surgery, deaths, and medical emergencies can’t be helped and I can’t imagine any owner or partner who would deny a PTO for something like that. Everyone who works in the tax side of public accounting knows the rules and scheduling limitations. I don’t schedule my routine dental or doctor’s appointments during January-April 15th because I have 260 other days in the calendar year to do so. Like I said, if our staffer was having a root canal or a problem my response would have been much different. There have been plenty of times during tax season that something has come up that I can’t avoid. I just come in earlier, stay later, or eat lunch at my desk. I know what the policy is and I abide by it. I wouldn't ask anyone to do anything that I'm unwilling to do. It’s only for 3.5 months. We aren’t heartless ogres but January-April 15th it’s all hands on deck! I don’t think it’s a big deal and it’s something we all accept when we sign on to work in tax. Just my two cents!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

In late January 2012 my husband’s grandfather passed away out of state. We were very close with him and it was devastating to our family. My firm gave me 5 days off to travel to the funeral and support our family, no questions asked. Surgery, deaths, and medical emergencies can’t be helped and I can’t imagine any owner or partner who would deny a PTO for something like that. Everyone who works in the tax side of public accounting knows the rules and scheduling limitations. I don’t schedule my routine dental or doctor’s appointments during January-April 15th because I have 260 other days in the calendar year to do so. Like I said, if our staffer was having a root canal or a problem my response would have been much different. There have been plenty of times during tax season that something has come up that I can’t avoid. I just come in earlier, stay later, or eat lunch at my desk. I know what the policy is and I abide by it. I wouldn't ask anyone to do anything that I'm unwilling to do. It’s only for 3.5 months. We aren’t heartless ogres but January-April 15th it’s all hands on deck! I don’t think it’s a big deal and it’s something we all accept when we sign on to work in tax. Just my two cents!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Anonymous]

Don't go. Had this been planned way in advance, maybe, but taking 5 days off with 3 days notice to go on vacation during busy season is not cool. Honestly if someone even asked me about going on the cruise I would assume they don't take their job seriously. It's busy season…we all know it sucks and trying to take a vacation is just one thing you shouldn't really be trying to do during it.

@Study Monk – We let people go to funerals no question asked. We have had 2 people on our team lose family members in the past month and each was given the opportunity to take time off.

[Anonymous]

Don't go. Had this been planned way in advance, maybe, but taking 5 days off with 3 days notice to go on vacation during busy season is not cool. Honestly if someone even asked me about going on the cruise I would assume they don't take their job seriously. It's busy season…we all know it sucks and trying to take a vacation is just one thing you shouldn't really be trying to do during it.

@Study Monk – We let people go to funerals no question asked. We have had 2 people on our team lose family members in the past month and each was given the opportunity to take time off.

[jlough]

OP- I wouldn't go if I were you. Even if there isn't a rule in your office specifically stating you cannot take vacation during February, you don't want the reputation as being the guy who went away during busy season with only 3 days notice. Plus, this isn't a once in a lifetime experience– you will get more chances to go on cruises, maybe not for free, but that's life 🙂

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

OP- I wouldn't go if I were you. Even if there isn't a rule in your office specifically stating you cannot take vacation during February, you don't want the reputation as being the guy who went away during busy season with only 3 days notice. Plus, this isn't a once in a lifetime experience– you will get more chances to go on cruises, maybe not for free, but that's life 🙂

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[Anonymous]

It sounds risky. As a business owner, if someone gave me the “family emergency” excuse, I would be checking the obituaries to see which of his family members died…and making a hiring/firing decision based on that. You could mention it to your supervisor and talk about the bad luck. Maybe he would let you off if they aren't busy yet. Tough call!

[Anonymous]

It sounds risky. As a business owner, if someone gave me the “family emergency” excuse, I would be checking the obituaries to see which of his family members died…and making a hiring/firing decision based on that. You could mention it to your supervisor and talk about the bad luck. Maybe he would let you off if they aren't busy yet. Tough call!

[Ucfgrad]

Besides not getting the job or getting fired, you don't want the bad reputation.

When people pull this kind off stuff at my firm, everyone else feels a little antsy.

[Ucfgrad]

Besides not getting the job or getting fired, you don't want the bad reputation.

When people pull this kind off stuff at my firm, everyone else feels a little antsy.

[megasaurus]

I wouldn't go. If an intern pulled that at my firm there is no way we would extend an offer.

Life happens, and I think the pp that brought up the point about you regretting not going later on has a valid point. In 10yrs what will be more important to you? I'm in tax at a big 4, I left work today at 5pm b/c I had a family member's bday dinner to attend. I let my managers know and they were supportive, and now I'm at home working to offset the time I missed. I'm not willing to compromise my family for work, regardless of the time of year. And I've never received push back for that (I'm a big 4) but I'm always willing to make up the time on the back end. I say this because this isn't something I would have done as a staff or intern, but I've proven my worth and that I can be trusted. As an intern you haven't, and there are plenty of people out there waiting to take your place.

Weddings, funerals, life, etc. happens during busy season and you aren't sentenced to a life of missing it all because you work at an accounting firm BUT no heads up and expecting to take multiple days off during one of the busiest times of the year is not going to be received well.

[megasaurus]

I wouldn't go. If an intern pulled that at my firm there is no way we would extend an offer.

Life happens, and I think the pp that brought up the point about you regretting not going later on has a valid point. In 10yrs what will be more important to you? I'm in tax at a big 4, I left work today at 5pm b/c I had a family member's bday dinner to attend. I let my managers know and they were supportive, and now I'm at home working to offset the time I missed. I'm not willing to compromise my family for work, regardless of the time of year. And I've never received push back for that (I'm a big 4) but I'm always willing to make up the time on the back end. I say this because this isn't something I would have done as a staff or intern, but I've proven my worth and that I can be trusted. As an intern you haven't, and there are plenty of people out there waiting to take your place.

Weddings, funerals, life, etc. happens during busy season and you aren't sentenced to a life of missing it all because you work at an accounting firm BUT no heads up and expecting to take multiple days off during one of the busiest times of the year is not going to be received well.

[mystical guy]

Just wondering, what did you end up doing @NYC?

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

Just wondering, what did you end up doing @NYC?

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Author]

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