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Vacation Freeze - What would you do?

Karla CSKarla CS member
in Working Moms

Our division has consistently struggled with moral – turn over is through the rough, for multiple reasons, but our C-level execs can’t seem to figure out the cause of the problem. They rarely even acknowledge there is a problem.  

We’re in the middle of a software conversion that will affect our client’s daily business, and as part of our conversion, our division manager issued a vacation freeze for the month of August. He told us about this DURING August, removed prior given vacation days for quite a few people, and at the end of the day, I think most people were accommodating of the fact – they made it very clear there was a good reason for the requirement, and most of us sucked it up for the greater good. (I had planned on taking a week to go visit my family, most of whom haven’t met the baby yet – now we have to push out to December)

Cue forward to today, and he sends out an email regarding availability this week. He’s going to be on vacation W-Fri. And EVERY SINGLE PERSON WITH A SVP TITLE TO THEIR NAME IS GOING TO BE ON VACATION. These are people that, without them in the office, we can’t get approvals in place for normal, everyday business, let alone if something goes wrong with the conversion. More importantly, these are the people who should be leading through their actions, and the fact that they’re not just continues to contribute to the problem.

I’m not the only person who’s infuriated by this, everyone is grumbling. I have a really good rapport with one of our C-level execs, and in the past, she’s asked for any suggestions that I might have that could help moral. So now I’m wondering, do I let her know about this situation as an example? If I do, I feel like I’m throwing my DM under the bus, but at the end of the day, he’s causing some serious discontent. What would you do?

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Re: Vacation Freeze - What would you do?

  • Karla CSKarla CS member
    Ugh. Forgive the typos, I wrote that too fast.
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  • jnnfrrose6jnnfrrose6 member
    Absolutely tell the person who has asked for suggestions.  You aren't throwing anyone under a bus by pointing out that what someone (DM or not) else is doing is completely hypocritical and moral crushing. If you can, I would try and have the conversation in person, though.  
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  • EastCoastBrideEastCoastBride member
    I don't know how this is throwing anyone under the bus, Tbh.  Speak up.  They said "no vacations" then all of the management level is taking vacation.  Not only does this affect moral, but you also can't get your jobs done- right?
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  • Karla CSKarla CS member
    I don't know why I can't get past the fact that it feels like tattling. 
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  • cedentoncedenton member
    Okay, people...it's not moral...it's morale. Whew! Glad I got that off my chest.

    Anyway...Assuming your relationship is as good as you think it is I think I'd say something like...

    Mr/Mrs So and So,

    In the past we've had discussions about the low morale and high turnover in the department.  You have asked for feedback as to my thoughts on why this is.
    To be honest, I have been reluctant to tell you my opinion because (blah, blah, blah). However, a recent situation has made it clear that I should speak up. (Describe situation without sounding bitter).

    Or meet in person and say something similar.
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  • EastCoastBrideEastCoastBride member
    Karla CS said:
    I don't know why I can't get past the fact that it feels like tattling. 
    Morale aside, your WORK is being affected.  You all can't get approvals that you need.  Do you think the upper management is going to give 2 shits about "tattling" if something goes really wrong w/ this conversion?!?!
    "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
    ~Benjamin Franklin

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  • Karla CSKarla CS member
    cedenton said:
    Okay, people...it's not moral...it's morale. Whew! Glad I got that off my chest.

    Anyway...Assuming your relationship is as good as you think it is I think I'd say something like...

    Mr/Mrs So and So,

    In the past we've had discussions about the low morale and high turnover in the department.  You have asked for feedback as to my thoughts on why this is.
    To be honest, I have been reluctant to tell you my opinion because (blah, blah, blah). However, a recent situation has made it clear that I should speak up. (Describe situation without sounding bitter).

    Or meet in person and say something similar.
    I can't believe I messed up moral/morale! I'm usually the one getting annoyed that my boss doesn't know when to use insure, ensure, or assure! Yikes! I'd like to blame it on lack of sleep, but I've been lacking sleep for a long time now.

    I think I'm just so used to our culture of quietly grumbling that saying anything, even when completely justified seems wrong. I think you're all right and I will see about getting some face time with her and bringing it up.
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  • FemShepFemShep member
    I'd bring it up to your DM and to the exec in the context of solving a business problem.

    DM, I understand why you asked that we not take vacation during this month.  However, since you and xyz executives won't be in the office this week, I'm concerned that the following work won't get done.  What do you suggest we do to get the needed approvals so we don't miss our critical deadline?

    Exec, I need some help managing a situation.  Many people, including myself, were asked to reschedule vacations planned for August so we make sure we hit this critical deadline.  We all pitched in, and then received a note from DM that he'll be out August 21-23, as will xyz.  We didn't have a plan to get the abc items done that we need to hit our deadline, and I'm concerned about how to keep my team's morale up given that many of us had our vacations canceled this month.  Do you have any suggestions on the best way to handle the situation?

    Send something along the lines of the above to your direct manager in email, so you have a paper trail.  You may perhaps want to do it as a reply to his vacation notification.  Have the conversation about with the C-level exec in person; you want to position it as informally asking a senior executive for advice in a career situation you need help with.  

    Good luck!
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