Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Do you think it's selfish to request a few days off work in this situation?

kramus · 10-26-2010, 06:29 PM

Yes Cyn, I acknowledged that it was a small family business, and a mom and pop Asian one at that - the family expectations are something a Westerner such as myself doesn't even begin to appreciate until you spend real time with an Asian family. And yes, a small family business has ridiculous hours for a minimal margin, because if you increase your margin the locals will go 2 blocks down and buy their goods for a penny less.

But you have to have a life outside of work. You need time to just recharge. Which is why I think it is important to move heaven and earth to set the precedent of getting regular time off. Without playing hard ball or hard ass until you are given no alternative. Mom and Dad can take a vacation. So can Daughter. And if they think she needs to wait until she has kids in their 20's before she can take a week away from the store, well, they will be discovering that there is a disconnect between their Old School expectations and the way life works where they have moved to. They moved to North America so both they and their kids could have a better life. The better life will include not working said children like indentured servants while they gallivant around the world, or even just gently show the folks back home how successful they've become in the New World.

My .02

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------

I think it is very important for chelle21689 to hear a viewpoint that differs from the ones in the box she has been forced to live in her whole life. Cyn, Jazz et al have good points. But there are viewpoints and alternatives to chelle21689's life that she needs to hear expressed. I could easily tell her to suck it up, wait until she is a post-grad with a high-end articling position before she is able to take a week off. But she is a young human being as well as a drone working for the family store. Find a way to give her some slack, give her needs validation, let her know there is life outside of the store for gosh sake.

My .02 may not be much in this advice game we're playing, but I won't pull it off the table

10-26-2010, 06:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
kramus loving the curves Location: my Lady's manor	Yes Cyn, I acknowledged that it was a small family business, and a mom and pop Asian one at that - the family expectations are something a Westerner such as myself doesn't even begin to appreciate until you spend real time with an Asian family. And yes, a small family business has ridiculous hours for a minimal margin, because if you increase your margin the locals will go 2 blocks down and buy their goods for a penny less. But you have to have a life outside of work. You need time to just recharge. Which is why I think it is important to move heaven and earth to set the precedent of getting regular time off. Without playing hard ball or hard ass until you are given no alternative. Mom and Dad can take a vacation. So can Daughter. And if they think she needs to wait until she has kids in their 20's before she can take a week away from the store, well, they will be discovering that there is a disconnect between their Old School expectations and the way life works where they have moved to. They moved to North America so both they and their kids could have a better life. The better life will include not working said children like indentured servants while they gallivant around the world, or even just gently show the folks back home how successful they've become in the New World. My .02 ---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ---------- I think it is very important for chelle21689 to hear a viewpoint that differs from the ones in the box she has been forced to live in her whole life. Cyn, Jazz et al have good points. But there are viewpoints and alternatives to chelle21689's life that she needs to hear expressed. I could easily tell her to suck it up, wait until she is a post-grad with a high-end articling position before she is able to take a week off. But she is a young human being as well as a drone working for the family store. Find a way to give her some slack, give her needs validation, let her know there is life outside of the store for gosh sake. My .02 may not be much in this advice game we're playing, but I won't pull it off the table __________________ And now to disengage the clutch of the forebrain ... I'm going with this - if you like artwork visit http://markfineart.ca