How should you respond to your manager requesting that you work a holiday?

Question

How should you respond to your manager requesting that you work a holiday?

Answer 1

is that like a 4th July holiday, or your annual leave? if it's a one day public holiday, penalty rates should be offered, even if the boss says take a different day off. if it's your annual leave, how bad do you need the job?

Answer 2

What's your issue?  You don't want to work or you do?  Employees usually get double pay when they work on a holiday.  If you don't want to work, tell them that you have a "prior arrangement" and can't come to work.

Answer 3

That I have plans that were made a long time ago involving family and therefore cannot work

Answer 4

Ahh, a political question.  This depends on a few things:

1.  What is your job position in relation to the top CEO?

2.  What is your job responsibility?

3.  Why can't you work on a holiday?

4.   What are your career goals?

5. What are the consequences if you say NO?

6.  What are the consequences if you say YES?

If you are a Doctor and your boss is asking you to work on labor day because they're short staffed - well then you have to work.  Its part of the CREDO

If you're the project manager on a huge initiative that is launching on Tuesday but IT recently found "problems" that will be fixed on the weekend and need to have an emergency planning session on Monday to prevent wasted resources on Tuesday - then you have to work.  It's part of your responsibility as a manager.

Now if you're just another worker bee like in "Office Space" and your boss is a tyrant and you don't really care about moving up.  Then be honest and just tell him/her you can't work- you have plans but wilth more notice, you might have been able to workout a "swap" for a weekday off.

If you have religious reasons or a commitment to the family then you have to evaluate those as well.  Remember we work to live not live to work.