Vacation conflicts with meeting prep

[Anonymous]

Would love advice from any senior level executives specifically.

Started a new job last spring and just found out we have an annual board meeting every April. This year’s happens to be the last week.

We had been planning a big family trip during my kids’ spring break, which is about 2 weeks prior to the meeting. Our CEO told everyone not to take any vacation the week before the meeting as it would be all hands on deck to prepare. From what I have heard from others, it’s generally 2-3 weeks of intense prep.

I know I will be involved in the prep but don’t have any sense in exactly how much - I will be creating a presentation on one topic out of many. I don’t mind doing some work on the trip to update my slides, but of course also don’t want to be stuck in a hotel room all day for multiple days.

Would you even ask your manager about taking 3 days off (again 2 weeks before the meeting) or no way? The complexity is that it’s my parents who are arranging the trip and my mom is not well, so it might be the last time she can travel. It also happens that our break lines up with my sister’s kids’ break for the first time in many years which is how it became a larger family trip. And pushing this particular trip to a later date isn’t possible for a few reason.

Ask or don’t ask? Since I am new in the role I certainly don’t want to come off as someone unwilling to do the work for a very important meeting, but at the same time if it’s the last extended family trip we can take with my mom am I really prioritizing work?

[Anonymous]

A lot of people take off a week around that time of year for spring break. I'd let them know you have a previously planned trip and that you'll get as much as you can done before you leave and be back the week before the meeting for prep. I'd also be open to hopping on a call or two and/or responding to some emails (within reason) on your trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of people take off a week around that time of year for spring break. I'd let them know you have a previously planned trip and that you'll get as much as you can done before you leave and be back the week before the meeting for prep. I'd also be open to hopping on a call or two and/or responding to some emails (within reason) on your trip.

Yes, this. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You have had this job for 6 months and just now asking? DUH.
The time to mention precommited travel is while on boarding.
Option is you let rest of family go with dying mom and you go see her later.

[Anonymous]

This won't be popular but - ask, say its really important to you, don't go into all the reasons you have listed, but share that you will be available on the trip and will be bringing your laptop, materials, happy to get on calls, etc.

They probably won't bother you because its 2 weeks before but if the CEO has made a big show of saying no one can take PTO the week before, you should do your best to appear accommodating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have had this job for 6 months and just now asking? DUH.
The time to mention precommited travel is while on boarding.
Option is you let rest of family go with dying mom and you go see her later.

I have gotten myself into your situation OP. Now I put in leave as soon as I think of it. Even if dates may shift by a day, or I decide later to cancel the trip. I always put in the leave.

Anyway, in your case I would tell them your mom is planning, this could be a last family trip and you’ll be available. And if your kids are young, try to shift the days after the meeting and just have them miss school. Would not do that for middle or high school.

[Anonymous]

Go on the vacation for the WHOLE trip, get your work done before the trip, and be ready to jump back in when you return.

We HAVE to be able to “clock out” and enjoy the company (family/relatives) it sounds like an important trip!- make sure you make your calendar now and tell your boss

Don’t work during your vacation

[Anonymous]

It’s hard to understand how you got here. As an upper level manager, You planned a big trip without consulting the schedule to see if the timing worked with the job responsibilities? And as newest member of the team you want to be excepted from the requirements of the job.

Here’s the thing. You could ask if it would be ok to take a family trip or part of it. But to say that you already scheduled it is going to make you
Look incompetent for not even looking at whether your job could accommodate that. And you would look entitled being the newest member of the team mot
Pulling her weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Go on the vacation for the WHOLE trip, get your work done before the trip, and be ready to jump back in when you return.

We HAVE to be able to “clock out” and enjoy the company (family/relatives) it sounds like an important trip!- make sure you make your calendar now and tell your boss

Don’t work during your vacation

+100

American work culture is awful. This might be your last trip with your mom- who cares about this meeting?

[Anonymous]

Between face time games and vacation guilt, we are screwed yet Europeans have no issue with time off.