Balancing Work and Volunteering: How Can I Convince My Boss for Weekend Offs?

I have been working as an HR in an organization for 8 months. I work 6 days a week, and I also come to work on Sundays if I have work. I have received an opportunity to volunteer for an NGO every Saturday. Since I would not have any work to do on weekends, I discussed with my boss whether I could take Saturdays and Sundays off weekly, but they are not willing to grant me these days off. Is there any other way I can make them understand the situation?

Regrettably, it is merely a personal issue. However, if the company's standard working schedule entails six days a week, adherence is expected. As an HR professional, requesting exceptions should not be considered. Your involvement in an NGO or charity, driven solely by altruistic motives without profit or income interests, is inconsequential in this context. Company rules take precedence. Should you genuinely require Saturdays off, seeking alternative employment may be necessary.

Regards,
Madhu T.K

There are other people in the organization who do not work on Saturdays and Sundays. So, as an HR person, do you mean to say that I shouldn't take up any kind of social responsibility?

I think Kritika has misunderstood my reply. First of all, in your first post (to which only I replied), you did not mention that "there are others who do not work on Saturday." If the organization's practice is that different positions or categories of employees have different off days, and due to that, some people enjoy benefits much more than others by way of off days and leaves, then I have nothing to say. I hereby withdraw my statements because I have given them within an organizational framework only. In an organization, such things should not happen, and if the organization works for 6 days, all are expected to work for 6 days. On the other hand, if whims and fancy rules, you can also try your luck. That's all.

The Role of HR in an Organization

An HR person is different from all others. He is expected to be a role model for everyone. You have 8 months of experience in HR, but I am speaking from my own experience, which is 30+ years! During this long tenure, I have seen different types of people, or I should say different emotions, and the employee bond or relationship is built on the foundation of the HR department only. If HR is weak, the entire structure of the organization will fall.

Regards,

Madhu.T.K

I second Madhu; first, try to take professional responsibility rather than social responsibility for which one is hired. If an HR personnel is more interested in social responsibility than his/her professional responsibility, what the other employees will lead the company to is a big question mark.