How Should I Handle Requesting Marriage Leave from My New Job Without Risking the Offer?

I am Shazia. I work for IDBI BANK. Last July 2011, I applied for a job at Bank of India. There was no vacancy at that time. Now they have a vacancy, and I attended my interview and, by God's grace, I got shortlisted. I am supposed to collect the offer letter shortly. They are asking me to join from April 1st, 2012.

Query About Leave for Marriage

My marriage is fixed for May 6th, 2012, for which I will need at least 10 to 15 days of leave. If I resign from my current job and join the new company on April 1st, will they be able to grant me a vacation leave of 10-15 days just after 1 month of employment?

I don't want to raise this leave issue in front of HR when I am collecting the offer letter. I am scared that they might hire another candidate. I don't want to lose this opportunity.

Please suggest to me, would it be a wise decision to discuss this issue with HR while collecting the offer letter? Or should I keep quiet and talk to them only in the first week of May?

Eagerly waiting for your comments.

Thanks & Regards,

Shazia

In the first month of joining, leaves may not be granted for new joiners. It is better if you inform beforehand so that they will understand and may grant leave as per your requirement. You grabbed the opportunity with confidence; I hope you can do this.

All the best. Happy married life.

Regards

The worst part of human communication is that "they believe as if things are happening as assumed." Humans are habitual of:

• Keeping on thinking without taking appropriate LOGICAL ACTION.

• Taking actions without applying LOGIC.

It is your PRIME responsibility to communicate to HR about your marriage as scheduled before collecting your appointment letter/order. I am sure HR will consider your request. If the organization cannot consider HUMAN VALUES, why do we need to work for any employer?

Don't make your life MATERIALISTIC and COMPLICATED by just assuming things. Believe in POSITIVE COMMUNICATION & THINKING.

If you are really a CREATIVE PERSONALITY, do invite your future employer, HR, and other team members. Demonstrate your INTERPERSONAL SKILLS and prove that you are a good PR. If you don't have them, you must learn "HOW TO BUILD PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS @ WORKPLACE" without making others feel that you are trying to get your things by applying tactics.

With profound regards,

You have two options:

1. If you are in Mumbai, you can meet the HR head of the Bank of India and inform them about your marriage. You can either request an extension of your joining date, which they would likely consider as a public sector undertaking, or ask for leave for your marriage after joining.

2. If you are not in Mumbai and have already been allocated to a specific branch or office, you should meet the HR at the Regional Office overseeing that branch or office. Inform them of your intention to join the bank and explain that since the marriage was arranged before the Bank's offer, you need 15 days' leave for the purpose. Even though you may not be eligible for leave, they are likely to grant you leave without pay.

Public sector banks have a different work culture and are generally supportive of employees in situations such as personal events or illnesses. I am confident that you will receive a positive response.

I recommend that you join first and then proceed on leave, as your seniority will be calculated from your date of joining.

Best regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai

Here are my suggestions for you:

Understanding Leave Policies During Probation

Find out more about the leave policy and its validity during the probation period. Seek to understand how leave without pay is approved and under what conditions.

Identifying the Right Authority

Find out your reporting authority. A talent acquisition team will have limited decision-making capabilities in discretionary leaves. They might have a knee-jerk reaction. Any request to the talent acquisition might unnecessarily alarm them. Please navigate your way to the right authority. When you inquire with your recruiter about the training programs and reporting authority, you will gain insight on how to proceed. You may even consider reaching out to the Head of HR, as suggested by Saiseven.

Communicating Your Commitment

Spend time with the HR/Business Manager, sharing your intentions of working for the bank in the long term and how eager you have been to work with them since last year. You have persevered through rejection to secure this job. Convey this commitment to the HR. Highlight your track record of reliability at work with your past employers and offer references to support this.

Weighing Your Options

Ask yourself what truly matters to you, honesty or taking a chance. They cannot terminate you after a month for requesting leave for your marriage. However, the fact that you have raised this question demonstrates your commitment to honesty.

In return, you might secure continued employment at IDBI but with an approved shorter, possibly unpaid, leave. This could be a reasonable compromise. Prepare alternative options that you can propose to accommodate the leave. Since you will be in the training period, they may approve the leave while you are non-billable.

Have faith, be prepared with the suggestions you have for them. The best outcome should come to you. God bless you!