Jennifer Wallace
Whether you’ve been putting in solid work for a month or for several months, it can be intimidating to ask your boss for time off.
After all – your boss is usually the first point of contact when it comes to these requests, and when you’re new to the company, it’s hard to gauge how they’ll react to your request. The wheels in your head may be spinning: “What if they get upset?”
Give yourself a minute. Take a deep breath. Read this. This guide will help you understand how to ask your boss for time off in a way that supports your career goals.
1. Remember That Your Boss Expects You To Need Time Off
Employers know that their employees will need time off. After all, we aren’t robots – sometimes we get sick and need a couple of days, or we need personal time for our mental well-being. No matter how vital you are to the company, your employer should know that you will be better off with a bit of time away.
In fact, studies by the National Institute of Health show that vacations enhance creativity, personal development, and well-being. The happier employees are, the better employee retention your boss will have – so requesting some time off is a win-win for both of you.
If you don’t believe me, consider this: Lin-Manuel Miranda got the idea for the musical Hamilton while reading on vacation. I don’t know about you, but as an avid Lin-Manuel Miranda (and musical theatre) fan, that’s a compelling argument for vacation time!
2. Do Your Research If You Can
Some time off is necessary and unexpected. If you lose a loved one, become ill or disabled, you won’t be able to plan ahead. In many cases, though, it’s entirely possible to plan a vacation around the company’s usual ebb and flow.
If you’re planning a vacation, you can be more flexible with the timing. Here are some tips on how to make a vacation request your employer will have an easier time saying yes to.
Check the employee handbook.
Every company has a different way of handling time off. Many companies offer PTO plans with at least some paid vacation time, but even the ones that don’t offer paid vacations will allow you to take one if you’ve worked there for long enough. The amount of time you’ll need to work before you’re entitled to time off can range from immediately (as soon as you’re hired) to a year after your start date.
By familiarizing yourself with the company’s policy, you will discover if they offer paid time off and how long you have to use your vacation time. Find out if employees who have worked there the longest get seniority when it comes to vacation requests.
Factor in the peak seasons for the company.
If you work in a company where you’re especially needed one season out of the year (like tax return time for accountants, or the first or last month of school for teachers), you can plan your vacation around those times. If your role is especially important at a certain time of year/month, you can also try to avoid asking for time off during those critical periods.
You can also pay attention to how your fellow employees handle vacation requests. Do they scatter vacation requests throughout the year, or take large chunks of time away? This can help you formulate a vacation request that won’t cause undue stress for other employees.
3. Ask Wisely
Once you’ve done your research, you can plan how you’re going to ask for the time off. Here are some tips on how to ask wisely.
Find a good time to ask your boss.
Ask about time off during a lull, not at a peak time when your employer’s attention is diverted. Even if your company has a healthy culture, this move may be seen as inconsiderate.
Choose an appropriate setting.
Vacation requests are usually submitted in the form of an email, even if the employee has already spoken with the employer in person. As formal as it may seem, it’s helpful because it provides you with a hard copy of your request.
It helps to broach the topic of time off in person first, then submit an email request, but here at Content Cucumber, we realize that in-person communication doesn’t come easily to everyone. (That’s why we write!)
If your boss would be receptive to a time-off request via text, wikiHow has published a helpful article on how to do that.
Explain your reason (maybe).
It’s easy to explain why you’re taking the day off when you’re part of a healthy organizational culture – but unfortunately, not everyone is.
As a writer who works for a company that offers unlimited PTO, it can be easy to forget that some companies take time off requests as a personal offense.
If you’ve got plenty of vacation time (or other time off) and don’t feel comfortable sharing why you’re requesting time off, you may be grateful to know that you’re not legally required to divulge that information (except in special circumstances, such as family medical leave or a COVID-19 diagnosis).
Let your coworkers know.
If your coworkers will need to cover for your absence, let them know in advance so they will be prepared for the time you are out. Provide any necessary information for them via a debriefing of sorts so they’ll feel confident taking over your responsibilities.
As much as you can, get caught up on your work (and/or plan ahead) so you’re not leaving as much work for your coworkers. Your boss and your coworkers will both appreciate your thoughtfulness in making sure everything is squared away.
