Should I let my new employer know my PTO plans before joining?

[Punit Jain]

Hi Guys,

I hope all is well and everyone is staying safe. I was planning to change my employer and recently got an offer from one of the big four. My joining date should be sometime in mid-march. I am also getting married in June and would be taking two weeks PTO.

My question is - should I let my new employer know this before my joining? Or it's normal and fine to let them know after joining?

[Tim Holloway]

I would get approval first. Taking time off that close to your hire date would generally be a cause for concern if they didn't know far enough in advance.

Good fortune, though. I got married on a Saturday and started a new job on Monday. Never got a honeymoon.

[Punit Jain]

Tim Holloway wrote:I would get approval first. Taking time off that close to your hire date would generally be a cause for concern if they didn't know far enough in advance.

Good fortune, though. I got married on a Saturday and started a new job on Monday. Never got a honeymoon.

Thanks. Should I also let them know that if two weeks is it's not possible then I can make it 1 week? Do you think that would still be concerning?

You should plan a honeymoon in 2021.  

[Paul Clapham]

Like Tim said, talk to them. You may need to negotiate the length of time off, sure. But you're talking about a time frame during a probation period, maybe. It all depends on the company you're joining. So the answer may be anything from "Sure, no problem" to "Absolutely Not!!!", just be prepared for anything.

[Tim Holloway]

Punit Jain wrote:You should plan a honeymoon in 2021.  

I planned one for our first anniversary, actually. Then some drunk driver kept us from ever having one a month before it was supposed to happen.

[Campbell Ritchie]

Congratulations on both counts.

Who thinks March to June is short notice? It is three months. I think you should bring it up at the first opportunity, and lay it on thick. You should have brought it up immediately after they offered you the post, and they ought to have asked then, too. Phone HR on Monday and tell them, “I've got the loveliest of women……”

Please avoid abbreviations like PTO.

Punit Jain wrote:. . . Should I also let them know that if two weeks is it's not possible then I can make it 1 week? . . .

No. If they want you to reduce your time off, let them ask you. Don't be the first person to mention it.

[Campbell Ritchie]

A few minutes ago, I wrote: . . No. If they want you to reduce your time off, let them ask you. Don't be the first person to mention it.

Well, that is my opinion.

[Paul Clapham]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:

A few minutes ago, I wrote: . . No. If they want you to reduce your time off, let them ask you. Don't be the first person to mention it.

Well, that is my opinion.

My opinion, too. Earlier I mentioned the word "negotiation", and that's what the discussion with the future employer might turn out to be.

[Punit Jain]

That's helpful. I have accepted the verbal offer and yet to receive the formal offer in the email. The HR is expected to call me on Monday or Tuesday. Should I discuss the time off plan before accepting the offer by email? Or should I first accept and then call her again to discuss? Not sure if it matters.

[Punit Jain]

Campbell Ritchie wrote:Congratulations on both counts.

Thank you!

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

I think bring it up before accepting. But not by framing it as a problem. For example, "I just want to let you know that I need to take 2 weeks off in June for my honeymoon. It's ok to use my personal time off that early, right".

And also, tell your team as soon as you start so they can plan accordingly. HR doesn't always relay the message.

[Campbell Ritchie]

I'vr already told you my opinion. Tell them as soon as possible. If they don't phone you, phone them. Tell them you hope to accept the job whenever the formal offer is given you, but you are also getting married. You aren't going to turn down the offer and you aren't going to turn down the woman, are you? So make sure everybody knows all the information PDQ.

PDQ=Pretty D*mn Quickly