WWYD - vacation during big meeting prep
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
I work for a global company and we have one week per year when our global CEO comes to the US and it’s a huge dog and pony show with important business presentations. The date has been on the calendar for a while (it’s in October) but my CEO just decided he wanted to add a section on a project I am working on to highlight the results.
To be clear, I am not attending the meeting, but it’s all about the grueling prep and the deck will change 500 times between now and then. It’s an unwritten rule that no one should travel in the 2-3 weeks leading up to the actual meeting as we have reviews of the full presentation and make tons of edits. Of course I have a trip planned for a long weekend away with DH for our 10 year anniversary exactly 2 weeks before the meeting. Spoke to my boss about it (who reports to the CEO) and she said she will not tell me I can’t go and to cancel, but if it were her she would not be away. That said, it’s not even clear that I will be needed the 3 days I would be out - I won’t be in any meetings, I would just be making updates behind the scenes. Given all the above, would you cancel or still go? I am torn because I hate to cancel for a what if situation, but optically not sure it looks good if I go (should I care?). Before anyone asks, we can get a refund on the trip but the hotel is booked solid for the rest of the year so can’t reschedule. |
Anonymous
|
Meh I would go.
It’s a weekend so you’re only taking off the Friday or Monday? Not a big deal. |
Anonymous
| None of us can tell you what you should do – you got yourself into the mess by planning it so close. |
Anonymous
| It's a long weekend. I wouldn't even think twice about taking it. See what you can get done before and after. 3 days does not seem like make or break when you have weeks to prep. |
Anonymous
|
Offer to make yourself available if needed while on your trip and go anyway.
If you can be reached while on your trip, you can verify that the information to be presented is correct or identify any new sources of needed information. In my experience, people don't end up needing you for these "make a big fuss" situations. 3 days and over a weekend and two weeks away is a lot less controversial than what I was expecting. |
Anonymous
+1. My company (foreign-owned) has the same yearly dog and pony show. And I spend too much time prepping for stuff that gets cut out at the last minute. You should definitely still go. You will have time to edit when you get back. |
Anonymous
|
It’s a long weekend, not a vacation, and it can be cancelled and rescheduled. It’s a nothing burger. Your 20th anniversary? Whatever.
|
Anonymous
| It’s a weekend and you’re only on call? I would go on the trip, but I’d still be available by email/text to review stuff if needed. |
Anonymous
| I would be available to make updates and hop on a call as needed, but i would not.cancel |
Anonymous
| My younger self would have cancelled bc I was a glutton for punishment and could get guilt tripped by anyone. Which is what your boss is doing to you. She wants to see what you’ll do. Now? I would go. 💯 Be available for any real emergencies ie cover your job, set up as many review meetings / holds before and after, meaning be responsible. But def go! |
Anonymous
|
If you want to keep your job in this economy, you cancel your weekend.
This is not a hard decision, go another weekend. |
Anonymous
|
You said yourself it's an unspoken rule not to leave town w/n 3 weeks of said big meeting.
So why did you schedule something w/n that time frame? And your boss doesn't sound encouraging about it so I'd take that as a huge hint. It's bad optics even if technically you wouldn’t be missed. |
Anonymous
| So many boot lickers |
Anonymous
| Part of me is like why did you schedule this so close to the meeting but the other part of me is like when you’re 75 on a rocker with your husband are you gonna care about this job? |
Anonymous
| I would go for sure. Two weeks before the meeting for a long weekend? If that’s a problem for a meeting that is annual, it’s insanely mismanaged. |