Need your thoughts please

[beloved_dingo 1,976]

Many people have prior obligations when starting a new job, whether it be appointments, vacations, medical procedures etc. I have always just informed a new employer of these things immediately and it has never been an issue. The n400 interview is still almost a month away and you'll barely be out of training at that time anyway. Personally, I would email the HR person you've been in contact with ASAP to let them know so you've got it (and their response) in writing. Then let your new manager know as soon as it is feasible to do so. 

[Dongbei 22]

Ask for the day off and explain why. They will happily grant it, especially if it really is a "Top 10 Best Place to Work." Those companies usually have unlimited PTO. 

[Mike E 11,739]

37 minutes ago, Dongbei said:

unlimited PTO. 

😂

[Dongbei 22]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

😂

I'm sorry you seem unfamiliar with this. Here's what a quick Google search would have turned up for you:

https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/cool-companies-offering-unlimited-vacation/

https://money.usnews.com/careers/slideshows/companies-that-offer-unlimited-vacation-days

Here's a list with dozens of companies: https://buildremote.co/companies/unlimited-pto/

[Mike E 11,739]

Just now, Dongbei said:

I'm sorry you seem unfamiliar with this. 

I’m sorry you think so.  
 

I did 33 years living in or working for companies based in Silicon Valley.  I’ve seen it all and experienced it all.  
 

One of my friends was a manager at a company  with “unlimited” PTO and she regularly had new college grads who asked after 3 months on the job if they could say a 6 month paid vacation to go to their native country.  Wanna guess how those conversations  went?
 

“unlimited” PTO was invented because some states, especially California, require companies with limited PTO to pay out unused vacation time in cash upon termination. Companies are loth to pay this expense hence the invention of “unlimited” PTO.  
 

IME, employees of “unlimited” PTO experience one of several things:

 

* guilt taking vacation for which they don’t have an accrued vacation balance.  This is the secondary benefit most employers with “unlimited” PTO hope for.  The manager I referenced actually felt this way. She had a cabin in Tahoe she stopped going to except on long weekends.  I tried to convince her that she should go there every other Friday that wasn’t a long weekend, which would have been about 10 days of PTO. 
 

* manager flat out refuses to grant any vacation because the employee is deemed irreplaceable. I had a colleague experience this. His manager though took lots of vacations. I guess she was replaceable.  

 

* manager grants vacation if employee can find someone to cover their responsibilities 

 

* manager simply limits PTO, less than 5 days per quarter and likely 2-3 per quarter 

 

* manager grants vacation without issue 

 

In my case I had the latter most experience and took 25-30 days of PTO per year, which is essential when one has a foreign SO.  
 

“Unlimited” PTO is a scam and the truly best employers don’t have it.  

[.yana 597]

I haven't experienced what Mike E has in terms of people asking for 6 months of paid time off shortly after accepting a position; however I do agree that unlimited PTO is designed to benefit the employer vs an employee:

 

- nobody in their right mind will even consider abusing the system so not to jeopardize their position at the company and simply because realistically not many people can afford to hand off their responsibilities for an extended period of time;

- if an employee is released / decides to leave - no payment required for unused time off;

- from psychological point of view: when given full control of the schedule and responsibilities, people tend to be more productive / have a heightened sense of loyalty towards their employer. 

 

I work in finance, husband works in a tech company. I worked nights when I was visiting my dying father in a foreign country (13 hour time zone difference), husband hasn't taken a full day off since 2020. Both have unlimited PTO. I even have additional bereavement leave for up to 3 weeks. But yeah, it's a total scam.  

[Dongbei 22]

36 minutes ago, Mike E said:

unlimited” PTO was invented because some states, especially California, require companies with limited PTO to pay out unused vacation time in cash upon termination. Companies are loth to pay this expense hence the invention of “unlimited” PTO

Maybe so, but you realize the 2nd company in that 2nd article (Oracle) is based out of Texas, right?

 

Regardless, this is detailing the topic at this point. 

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

Well.....I began a new job this week and I already had a 3 week trip planned for August, and they approved it before I even started. lol

I would say you should be honest. An interview like this is a pretty big deal. It will probably be a good gauge as to how it would actually be working for them.

[Hamada91 9]

I’m sorry but if your employer is not willing to give you a day off for your naturalization or if you think it wouldn't look nice even if they approve it, then the company shouldn't be listed as one of the top 10. 

[arken 4,197]

OP is worrying for no reason. She would be surprised when HR or her manager of such a top 10 workplace in the US replies in a congratulatory tone.

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

19 minutes ago, arken said:

OP is worrying for no reason. She would be surprised when HR or her manager of such a top 10 workplace in the US replies in a congratulatory tone.

I so agree with this. OP, please do it soon and let us know!

[picaso34 9]

Update: we met our trainer and told him we're married and that I'll have my citizenship interview on Monday and that we need the day off and he was happy for me and it's not big deal for the day off. I said  is not nice to have to ask for a day off on the first day i meet you and he laughed.

Thank you all for your help!  🤞🙌👏

[Joyoussinger 1,425]

1 hour ago, picaso34 said:

Update: we met our trainer and told him we're married and that I'll have my citizenship interview on Monday and that we need the day off and he was happy for me and it's not big deal for the day off. I said  is not nice to have to ask for a day off on the first day i meet you and he laughed.

Thank you all for your help!  🤞🙌👏

I'm so glad and so happy for you! Thank you for the update!