Hi Friends,
I have been asked a question in an HR interview. The question is: If a permanent and efficient employee in a company comes and asks for every Saturday off (Sunday is, however, a regular holiday), what would you answer, and what would you do? The company has a 6-day working week, i.e., Monday to Saturday. It would be appreciated if anybody could tell me the right answer to this question. I tried to provide a few answers, but the interviewer was not convinced.
Thanks.
From India, Mumbai
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1I have been asked a question in an HR interview. The question is: If a permanent and efficient employee in a company comes and asks for every Saturday off (Sunday is, however, a regular holiday), what would you answer, and what would you do? The company has a 6-day working week, i.e., Monday to Saturday. It would be appreciated if anybody could tell me the right answer to this question. I tried to provide a few answers, but the interviewer was not convinced.
Thanks.
From India, Mumbai
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You can talk to him with the company policy in place and the requirement of him working on a Saturday (may be due to client constraints) and can always tel that you will look into it. Regards Kannan
From India, Bangalore
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From India, Bangalore
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Hi Kannan,
One of my answers included the same as what you said. However, it is not the appropriate way to communicate with the employee who has requested a compulsory need for taking Saturdays off regularly. I also mentioned that we could propose for him to work on Sundays if he takes the holiday on Saturdays. Please note that it is not a leave or a weekly day off but a holiday similar to Sunday. How can this be feasible for a single employee? We cannot afford to lose this employee as he is a long-standing and efficient member of the team. I have considered all possible responses I know, but none seem to be suitable. Senior HR professionals should be familiar with the correct approach to this situation. I kindly request assistance from anyone who can provide guidance on this matter.
Thank you.
From India, Mumbai
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One of my answers included the same as what you said. However, it is not the appropriate way to communicate with the employee who has requested a compulsory need for taking Saturdays off regularly. I also mentioned that we could propose for him to work on Sundays if he takes the holiday on Saturdays. Please note that it is not a leave or a weekly day off but a holiday similar to Sunday. How can this be feasible for a single employee? We cannot afford to lose this employee as he is a long-standing and efficient member of the team. I have considered all possible responses I know, but none seem to be suitable. Senior HR professionals should be familiar with the correct approach to this situation. I kindly request assistance from anyone who can provide guidance on this matter.
Thank you.
From India, Mumbai
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Dear team,
First, we have to make it clear that one has to obey and respect the policies and guidelines of the company, which are made with the organization's growth in mind. An organization cannot depend on one person, even if they are very efficient. If we start by obeying one request, he will come up with another benefit. I hope my understanding is correct.
Thanks,
svsrao
From India
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First, we have to make it clear that one has to obey and respect the policies and guidelines of the company, which are made with the organization's growth in mind. An organization cannot depend on one person, even if they are very efficient. If we start by obeying one request, he will come up with another benefit. I hope my understanding is correct.
Thanks,
svsrao
From India
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Hi Friends, Who have the official Letters format Please Send me.(ex. Termination for Labor & Staff, request for vacation letter ordinary & Emergancy etc. Thanx..
From Qatar
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From Qatar
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I would like to know how many leaves are permissible for the company. Second, I would like to know the position of this person. i.e., I wouldn't want to take action on a CEO :-)
The answer would be to ask the employee to get approval from his superior in writing. In all likelihood, the superior will not give such approval. Even if he does, one must be "assertive" enough to say NO in case the employee has exceeded the permissible number of leaves that can be taken.
The fact is that there is no right answer. If there were, you would have found it in every book, forum, or would be taught in every management classroom. An employee may be a star in the company, but you have to remove the diseased chicken from your farm before it infects anyone else, even if it lays the most number of eggs. Your employee needs to be convinced not with your answer but with the fact that you can really do what you claim to do. Phrases like "I think I will..." or "I might do..." or "one option would be..." are not as convincing as "I'll have to take action..." or "I believe that one must follow rules...". Using power words also helps in convincing, such as "I will assertively tell..." or "I will definitely refuse if..."
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
youthempowermentsolutions.org
From India, Pune
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The answer would be to ask the employee to get approval from his superior in writing. In all likelihood, the superior will not give such approval. Even if he does, one must be "assertive" enough to say NO in case the employee has exceeded the permissible number of leaves that can be taken.
The fact is that there is no right answer. If there were, you would have found it in every book, forum, or would be taught in every management classroom. An employee may be a star in the company, but you have to remove the diseased chicken from your farm before it infects anyone else, even if it lays the most number of eggs. Your employee needs to be convinced not with your answer but with the fact that you can really do what you claim to do. Phrases like "I think I will..." or "I might do..." or "one option would be..." are not as convincing as "I'll have to take action..." or "I believe that one must follow rules...". Using power words also helps in convincing, such as "I will assertively tell..." or "I will definitely refuse if..."
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
youthempowermentsolutions.org
From India, Pune
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First, HR should find out why he is suddenly asking for Saturdays off because all these days, he was working on Saturdays. It might be some health-related issue or any other personal problem. HR can give him a chance to work from home temporarily or until the problem is solved. It depends on the nature of the job as well. If the employee's presence in the office is mandatory, then HR should convince him to work on Saturdays, maybe with flexible timings. If he insists on not working on Saturdays, either in the office or at home, then it depends on the company's policy.
@Prashantgk - If you can share your answers, it will be helpful for others as well.
From India, Bangalore
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@Prashantgk - If you can share your answers, it will be helpful for others as well.
From India, Bangalore
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Thank you, friends, for your comments!
@Avinash, the position of the employee, let's say a Senior Executive, who has been working for many years in the organization. If it were the CEO, wouldn't you take action on him? Lol :-)
As Avinash mentioned, I think the proper way is to ask the employee to obtain approval from their superior in writing. That's what we can do as HR. It also seems right that HR must be authoritative and direct in their actions. However, if the employee still insists on bringing their case directly to HR and asks, I believe we have to investigate the reasons behind it, as Telina Murugesan pointed out. These are very practical issues! Any more comments?
From India, Mumbai
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@Avinash, the position of the employee, let's say a Senior Executive, who has been working for many years in the organization. If it were the CEO, wouldn't you take action on him? Lol :-)
As Avinash mentioned, I think the proper way is to ask the employee to obtain approval from their superior in writing. That's what we can do as HR. It also seems right that HR must be authoritative and direct in their actions. However, if the employee still insists on bringing their case directly to HR and asks, I believe we have to investigate the reasons behind it, as Telina Murugesan pointed out. These are very practical issues! Any more comments?
From India, Mumbai
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See the possibility of deciding all Saturdays as holidays by convincing the management. This can be achieved by working extra hours every day (all 5 days), for example, working an additional 1.5 hours on top of the normal 8-hour workday.
Suresh
From India, Madras
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Suresh
From India, Madras
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Hi, here is a simple answer to your question. We keep the office open on alternative Saturdays. Employers also get a holiday on alternative Saturdays. One week consists of 6 working days, while the next week has 5 working days. We prioritize employer satisfaction over strict office rules because we believe that when employers feel free, they can fully concentrate on their work.
From India, Guntur
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From India, Guntur
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Since the employee is a senior and an efficient employee, the HR has to make him feel how important he is for the organization and how he should abide by the company policies and be an example for others. It should be explained that it might create conflicts among other employees if he is given holidays alone. He has always been in the good books, and such demands are not expected out of him. However, if he still insists and there is any scope for adjustments, then the workdays can be made 5 days with an increase in the number of hours, with the consensus of the other employees too.
From China
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From China
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The employee is stated to be permanent and efficient. As such, he can be counseled not to insist on a Saturday holiday. It can be refused, and the employee informed accordingly. Nobody is indispensable in a company.
From India, Hyderabad
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From India, Hyderabad
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Dear friends, thank you for your response. In the above situation, we neither want to lose the employee nor initiate any disciplinary action. The key question here is: as an HR professional, how can we effectively handle this tricky case?
For instance, if an employee approaches you and requests every Saturday off as it is necessary for them, how would you address this situation? What approach would you take?
Thank you.
From India, Mumbai
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For instance, if an employee approaches you and requests every Saturday off as it is necessary for them, how would you address this situation? What approach would you take?
Thank you.
From India, Mumbai
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The thumb rule for these exceptions is that no one is above the company policies. Rules can be reviewed if the need arises, but HR should not bend policies for one employee, whoever he is or howsoever efficient he is. Period. If I was in the position of the HR person, I would calmly but firmly tell the employee that his request cannot be considered. I am sure that employees who have long service and are mature enough will realize that HR policies are not meant to be bent at one's whims and fancies. Being a senior employee, he should be asked to lead by example. Employees appreciate frank and honest responses to their queries. There should not be any uncertainty like "We'll get back", we will consider, we will get back to you, etc.
From Netherlands
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From Netherlands
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Hi, it's very simple - you need to show your decision-making skills here. If Saturday is working, it means it is working. However, in the normal case, an employee can avail his/her CL/EL. Discipline has to be maintained anyhow, whether the employee is most efficient or average. Every employee will get his/her reward accordingly.
Thank you!
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Thank you!
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I'm read above all explanations, but if I have a designation of HR manager and any employee asks me such a type of question, then I would like to say to my employee, "Mr. X, I understand your feeling and request it, but dear, as you know, the policy of our company, I do not have such authority to do these things. However, I will definitely talk with my superior." The phrase "I could not do" may create dissatisfaction in the mind of the employee. In my opinion, the Law of Individual Differences comes into play here, so the manager should understand why those employees are making such demands and try to address them.
Please let me know if you need any further assistance.
From India, Surat
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Please let me know if you need any further assistance.
From India, Surat
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Hi All,
Please let me know if anybody wants to apply for the post of Civil & Electrical Eng. in one of the reputed Hotel Industry in Bihar, Patna. Kindly send your updated CV to kanchan.kumar80@gmail.com. (Only male candidates with hotel industry experience can apply)
From India, Patna
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Please let me know if anybody wants to apply for the post of Civil & Electrical Eng. in one of the reputed Hotel Industry in Bihar, Patna. Kindly send your updated CV to kanchan.kumar80@gmail.com. (Only male candidates with hotel industry experience can apply)
From India, Patna
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Dear Prashant,
Your question is very interesting one.
To be very practical, it's the company policy and you can't change it for a person even if he is efficient. Because you have so many employees in your company who are also efficient but never asked for such extra holiday. Even if you have only one efficient person, you can't treat him differently from other employees, as it will create a dissatisfactory environment for employees, and your company will suffer a lot for this.
Let me know first, are you responsible for making HR policies of the company? If yes, then you have to change your policy to give the 2nd and 4th Saturdays off to all employees, so that equal treatment for all will lead to a happy workforce.
Best Regards, Sunita Dhoundiyal
From India, Delhi
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Your question is very interesting one.
To be very practical, it's the company policy and you can't change it for a person even if he is efficient. Because you have so many employees in your company who are also efficient but never asked for such extra holiday. Even if you have only one efficient person, you can't treat him differently from other employees, as it will create a dissatisfactory environment for employees, and your company will suffer a lot for this.
Let me know first, are you responsible for making HR policies of the company? If yes, then you have to change your policy to give the 2nd and 4th Saturdays off to all employees, so that equal treatment for all will lead to a happy workforce.
Best Regards, Sunita Dhoundiyal
From India, Delhi
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Hi Everyone,
I have just completed my MBA in HR and also have six months of working experience in the HR Department of a Chemical Industry. Now, I am searching for a job in the same field. Please, if anyone has information about job opportunities, kindly post a comment.
Thanks and regards...
From India, Chandigarh
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I have just completed my MBA in HR and also have six months of working experience in the HR Department of a Chemical Industry. Now, I am searching for a job in the same field. Please, if anyone has information about job opportunities, kindly post a comment.
Thanks and regards...
From India, Chandigarh
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Both Balaji and Sunita, your point sounds absolutely right. Thanks for the valuable suggestions.
@Sunita, yes, I am responsible for making HR policies in my company. Thanks a lot for your suggestion, and I will see to modify a policy accordingly after consulting the management.
From India, Mumbai
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@Sunita, yes, I am responsible for making HR policies in my company. Thanks a lot for your suggestion, and I will see to modify a policy accordingly after consulting the management.
From India, Mumbai
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Sunday is a regular holiday. If an employee wants to have a holiday on Saturday, they may prefer to work on Sunday instead of Saturday due to personal reasons or to complete some work related to organizational development on their day off. In such cases, you can allow this adjustment.
From India, Thana
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From India, Thana
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No, Sunday also holiday. And for some offices, if he wants to come on Sunday also, office will not be open for one employee. That’s the case.
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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Hi,
When a permanent and efficient employee in a company wants one more holiday, just like Saturday, it's for him. This applies to all employees because it's company policy, and in a week, six days are working, so we have started the second Saturday as a holiday.
From India, Bhopal
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When a permanent and efficient employee in a company wants one more holiday, just like Saturday, it's for him. This applies to all employees because it's company policy, and in a week, six days are working, so we have started the second Saturday as a holiday.
From India, Bhopal
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It all depends on organization size and also organization requirement.
In our company, we have allowed one person to take every Saturday off since he is pursuing higher education. Therefore, leave is granted with pay. No one compares with that employee, and if there is any urgent requirement, he will stay back and work on those Saturdays.
From India, Madras
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In our company, we have allowed one person to take every Saturday off since he is pursuing higher education. Therefore, leave is granted with pay. No one compares with that employee, and if there is any urgent requirement, he will stay back and work on those Saturdays.
From India, Madras
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