How to take a week off work and not get fired/yelled at

[militant_x]

Basically, since booking the cruise I lost my job and found a new one and the new job doesn't have vacation. I teach at a local university.... no way I can cancel classes for a week, and there is no way in hell I'm missing this cruise. Not sure how to handle this. Any ideas?

[mooyagi]

Get fired? Maybe you can just record the lectures on video ahead of time and make them available online. Keep yourself reachable by email while on the cruise. Or you could just pretend to be sick for a week. Do you have a teaching assistant that can cover a couple of lectures for you?

[DragonLordJones]

not sure what you teach but maybe you can video tape a weeks worth of classes and have a T.A. play 'em for the week ....... saw that in a comedy once where the teacher has his class lectures taped and most of the students were not there, just have recorders there recording the class (can't remember the movie though)

just an idea .... tough place to be in. good luck

EDIT: damn mooyagi beat me to it

[militant_x]

Video lectures, brilliant! Pretty sure the department wont like this, but its better than just canceling class. I think I could probably get a friend to cover a class at least one of the days and cover the rest with videos. I'm pretty sure the students wont mind whatever it is I end up doing, It's the higher ups I'm worried about. I teach basic math, calculus etc.

[last_candle]

video lectures might be the best option - every other idea includes broken bones

[Metalwrath]

Apply for a new job and let them know you are only available to start the week after the cruise
That way you can quit your current job for the cruise and then start a new job right after

[metalgoddess]

Basically, since booking the cruise I lost my job and found a new one and the new job doesn't have vacation. I teach at a local university.... no way I can cancel classes for a week, and there is no way in hell I'm missing this cruise. Not sure how to handle this. Any ideas?

Did you tell them about it when they offered you the job? This is a tough one, otherwise.

So we have a mathematician on board! Are you a musician as well?

[ragnaröks_roller]

Well, if any of your co-workers or students are metal heads interested in this cruise you might have just solved your own problem!

In addition to video lectures, maybe schedule some live-time online with your students, too. That might alleviate some complaints about lack of contact. I'm sure there will be internet access from the boat even if it's pricey. Of course you'll have to see the band schedule so you don't set yourself up for missing your favorite bands!

Perhaps this guy's case can help with the higer-ups if it comes to it:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/293675/swedish_mans_heavy_metal_addiction.html?cat=17

[ShoreSlayer]

I'm gonna suggest the less ethical route. So long as you haven't mentioned the trip to any of your co-workers, students or higher ups, just have an imaginary aunt or, even better, step-parent who lives on the other side of the country pass away the weekend before the cruise. Almost all employers offer some kind of time off for grief and loss don't they? And if they only offer 3 days, use that for Mon - Wed and then have airline screw ups keep you from getting back on time

Whatever route you choose, best of luck and don't get caught if you take my advice

[militant_x]

These are all good suggestions. I'm thinking video lectures and scheduled office hours online will help. I'm pretty sure I should tell the department chair even though there is a good chance (unless a student complains) that It would never be uncovered. I'm a horrible liar and when I'm asked why I cant come in the following week saying I'm going to watch bands on the open ocean is a little strange. I'd much rather say I'm traveling to some conference somewhere. I didn't tell them about this when I took the job.

Live video lectures featuring guest appearances by Tony Kakko and Hansi I like to think I can play guitar, metal as a disability probably wont fly worth a try though hahaha

[mooyagi]

Well, whatever you do, good luck. Having taken many advanced mathematics courses when I was in college, I would welcome the week off as a student. Just give them a couple of difficult equations/formulas to derive and that should hold them. I hope your department understands the importance of you needing to be on this cruise.

Cheers from a fellow math geek!

[militant_x]

[quote="mooyagi" I hope your department understands the importance of you needing to be on this cruise.

Cheers from a fellow math geek! [/quote]

[Evican]

I started a new job in May and because I would only have a week or so of holidays worked up come January, I told the panel in my first interview that I already had a cruise booked for January and they were cool with it. A lot of the people that were hired also had holidays that were booked that they had to take this year but made sure it was mentioned prior to getting the job too. However, seeing as that idea is out the window the video lectures would seem like a good way to go without lying.

[asmegin]

All great suggestions. Better than mine.

If the higher ups are females, just show them how important the cruise is by making sweet sexual love to them.

[debborah1]

All great suggestions. Better than mine.

If the higher ups are females, just show them how important the cruise is by making sweet sexual love to them.

NAW........you just need to change their strings.....

and to answer the question at hand as what to do to get outta work and keep your job......
just put little red dots all over your body and tell'm you got chicken pox and have to be quarantined for 5 day's!

[WizardBeast]

i think being honest about the time off for a vacation would be pretty upstanding of you.

Here's what i would do (as someone who has a master's degree, i do know how academia works a little):
1) tell them ASAP. you can say the cruise was still being confirmed when you were hired and you are sorry you didn't tell them sooner.
2) offer to do video lectures for the week you are gone
3) have extra office hours the week you return (no need to promise students remote office hours when the ship may be out of range and you potentially can't deliver - this could just make things worse).

this should go just fine. take it from a professional engineer (soon to be manager herself), i have gotten pretty good about this sort of thing.

[raoul volfoni]

1st : negociate,
lost?
2nd : go to the cruise, a trip of a lifetime !don't forget!

then when you will go back to school, just say you are living in a tunnel, so you cannot answer their calls, also say: My toaster has made a suicide attempt, I tried to come but my train derailed, I was dead but since, I feel better, My dog chasing a cat and I was chasing my dog ...It took a long time, I took too many sleeping pills and by the way, I helped my mother give birth, then There was a sheep in front of my door, I could not get out, My snowmobile would not start and I got kidnapped. Besides, I should pay the ransom.My camel had a flat hump I had to give him 120L water, one day later I was raped by a ninja turtle.It was so cold that I turned into MisterFreeze. I put more than 4 DAYS to thaw, and now I stick I stink raspberry.

- "you're fired "

-"I will speak only in the presence of my lawyer"

[last_candle]

...there's just one to add: "I forgot to pay the gravity bill"
(Calvin&Hobbes rule!)

[cg138]

All great suggestions. Better than mine.

If the higher ups are females, just show them how important the cruise is by making sweet sexual love to them.

Hahaha. Reminds me of a great line from Futurama's Zapp Branigan:

"The best way to a woman's heart is through her parents... have sex with them, and you're in!"