Once in a great while you work for employers who understand what it means to be a hunter and im fortunate to have great employers who do.
I work for a small mech. contractor who's owners are die hard hunters and fishermen, so the occasional early morning call that ill be in at noon, cause im huntin is met with "good luck and send pics" if you get one down, or take the whole day, followed by " good luck and send pics"!
Our shop at times is one big disfunctional family, but a great family none the less, and im blessed to have employers who understand what it means to be a hunter.
Just wondering if others have employers who understand? :campfire:
Well being self employed I think my boss is very understanding.
You are very fortunate moleman.
I try to be good on attendance at work,but come November I take 3 weeks off every year.Work slows down around that time anyway and he seems to understand "The Addiction".
"He" being the boss.
My boss isn't a hunter, but,he has always been exceedingly understanding. Best boss I've ever had as a matter of fact.
You may be the luckiest man alive.
Victory hunter, im sure im not the luckiest, but Blessed for sure. A great wife that encourages me to hunt, good health to enjoy it and an employer that gets it,.....lucky,... maybe,.. Blessed indeed. :campfire:
I have not missed an unscheduled day at work in near 11 years other than a short time when I tore my calf 3 years ago. So when I ask for a day off to hunt I usually get it with a smile.RC
That's why I work for myself. Even then the boss complains, but I just talk back!
Being retired puts an end to all that nonsense.....lol! I am blessed!!
the other side of this coin is working for University of California, Davis. Monday mornings begin with a "hi, how was the weekend". That is, until they found I hunted. Nobody wanted to hear about it, and I was told not to bring pictures. a true "hostile workplace", which harassment stopped when I mentioned the "hostile" part of that phrase.
I'm probably being stalked by my employer, so I will say without a doubt that I work at the best possible place in the world. Never a problem, and always runs smooth. This place could be a model for every employer out there.
Hunting isn't understood by many where I work, and even fewer understand my desire and drive for traditional archery, but being a loyal employee who loves his job has benefits come hunting season.
Vacation time is a balance between family and hunting, and I work a boatload of OT during non hunting season (summer), so some much needed vacation is needed come September 1st.
Having a boss that understands is rare. Be thankful if you have one. I, myself am also self employed so I only have to ask nicely and usually get a day or two off.
Every time I ask off, I get "what are you hunting, where you going, all week?" Spring time, be in at 10. Fall, cuttin out early. They are understanding, if they weren't I wouldn't be there.
My boss understands.
He even understands, 20 minutes late just because I needed another cup of coffee.
I think he knows I work to live, not live to work. And he always gets even. Lol
Last time I took vacation, my boss argued with me that I shouldn't take time off. 20 minutes later I received a call from the boss telling me I am accruing too much vacation time and need to start using it. the next day I asked for 2 days off during a slow period and was met with "you cant take time off".
That's the kind of environment I work in. Glad to know they like me as to not want me to take off. ever.
I just do my 8 and skate.
If I need time off and have to fight it, I will win. I just hate fighting for something that shouldn't need fighting for.
Being self-employed solves one part of the problem. Having a "Boss" whom I promised to love "in good times and bad", might be an issue, but not for me.
She, who must be obeyed, is very supportive and encouraging. And she knows if we wake up to a day with new snow on the ground, no work will be getting done...
No, never be a cop, if you want to have off time to hunt.
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My boss is very flexible she lets me off to hunting just about anytime I want to go but we have been married for 36 years. Lol
As a care salesman it's tough to get time off. Customers don't understand when you tell them you have a day off. Or they call and ask what time you leave, and you say 5 to go to my daughters soccer game. They show up at 455 every time. Vacation days are the same. Tough to schedule them because of car shows, special events, etc. When you do take vacation, you lose money because other salesman take your deals because customers don't tell them they are working with you. Customers are clueless as to how it works. Its a tough life.
Never work for the USPS. They will always mess up something for you. It took me 17 years to get the 1st day of gun season off. So I started Traditional archery and was getting off in Oct. Guys would see me getting what I wanted and they started to take off then so I couldn't get off. Just to mess up your life. But now I have the upper hand I retired last year. I do what I want to do and when I want to do it.
I have been fortunate in the past on my job. Been able to take the month of September off and be in the arctic, then come home and be able to take time for bow and rifle season. Trade off is work all summer so everyone else can take off. Boss just quit, so will be interesting who and what the next boss will be like. Getting closer to the retirement. But no complaints now.
QuoteOriginally posted by Cyclic-Rivers:
If I need time off and have to fight it, I will win. I just hate fighting for something that shouldn't need fighting for.
I feel your pain 110%!!!!!!!!!!
I kinda think my boss could care less about hunting and what I do on my time off from work... I've never been denied leave, just give 110% when I am there... That works for me.
... mike ...
What you do on your time off should be of no concern to an employer. Request the time off, get it approved and go do what you have planned: hunt, play tiddley winks, sleep...whatever.
Pretty much all the places I've worked it was pretty cut and dry - So many people were allowed to schedule off on any given day, if the day was open and you requested it, you got it.
I've also found that if you treat the employer like you would want to be treated if you were the owner/boss, they are more willing to work with you when things come up.
Calling in sick is one of my pet peeves, sick days are for being sick. I've never called in a bogus sick day my entire life, since I was a teenager with my first job until now 35 years later. If I called in sick, I had my head in the toilet or something serious going on, and I can count those days on my two hands. A lot of the bogus stuff is what sours employers on being understanding.
I've been working for the same guy in logging/landclearing going on 22 years now. He's a hunter too. We keep a 223 by our firewood processor at our yard in case we see any coyotes! I've probably shot at least 1/2 a dozen "on the clock" LOL!!!
He takes off two weeks right around Thanksgiving to hunt at his place in New York. I get that off,plus 3 more weeks to use when ever I want.He'll let me start early or stay late whenever I want ,to free up time another day to hunt. I'll work sundays to get a day off during the week(no Sunday hunting here)For turkey hunting,I'll hunt the morning(can only hunt until noon here anyway) and then work late to make up the time.He doesn't care as long as the job is done when it's suposed to be.I'm a falconer also and having a schedule like that works great for hunting with my birds too.
I am high an tight at work when hunting season comes.they leave me alone
I have a great boss . Its never a problem taking time off or if I'm late do to a morning tracking job. He even asks' if I need help!
I would do the same for him.
Most of my bosses (with a couple of exceptions) did not hunt and if overtime was needed did not care about employee plans. Fortunately, I am now semi-retired and have much more free time. If you have an understanding boss, you are lucky.
My current boss is anti but I just go quietly about the fall and don't talk to her about it. If someone makes strong comments about hunting I just ignore them as ignorant and still eat alot of deer regardless.
As long as I get my 40 hours in they don't care, so in the fall I work some 11 - 12 hour days and usually done work by noon on thursday, and I can bank up to 80 hours plus my vacation time. Come on november.
doug77