Help! I need a legitimate excuse for a 6 month leave of absence from work.

[SuperKat 0]

I'm starting the Police Academy in January. My job allows for a 6 month leave of absence. They also have a FMLA (family, medical, leave of absence) plan but that's only good for 12 weeks. If anyone is in Human Resources, I would appreciate if they could let me know what excuse is valid to be alloted the full 6 month leave of absence. I'd hate to use this but my Dad is currently in ICU, he's got pneumonia, diabetes, advance colon cancer and he just suffered from a stroke a few days ago that has the entire left side of his body paralyzed. I was thinking of using that as a last resort. Unfortunately, this falls under FMLA so I only get 12 weeks. Would there be any other legitimate excuse that I could use so that they grant me the full 6 month leave of absence while locking down my position. Any helpful input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. You guys are always helpful for both skydiving advice and whuffo advice. Happy Holidays! And Merry Christmas to those that celebrate Christmas.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[McDuck 0]

Have you been there long enough to warrant a sabbatical?

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[NWFlyer 2]

Why do you need to hold on to your job?

My gut instinct would be to be honest. Anything else is going to catch up with you eventually.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[SuperKat 0]

Yes, I've been here for 3 years now. How would I go about approaching that?

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[hexadecimal 0]

"I've contracted a disease which will kill me unless I have myself frozen for 6 months while they develop a cure"

[SuperKat 0]

You just never know. What happens if I get hit by a car while I'm in the Academy? What if a loose pitbull mauls my leg? Once you're in the Academy they give you a 2 year probation period from there. If you get injured outside of work, they'll fire you. Why? It would be foolish for them to give you disability pay of 75% of your pay for the rest of your life. Too many scammers have injured themselves and claimed the 75% in the past. Therefore, it's a high liability for them. Thus, I got injured that would mean I'd be jobless and kicked out of the Academy. Which is why I think it would be a good idea to hold onto my job until I'm out of the Academy.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

Lol nice try. they'll ask for a doctor's note. And they won't go for it because I'll have benefits during this time while on leave. Which means the bill comes out of their pocket.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[Lindercles 0]

so your plan is to hold on to your job while you're in the academy, but when you graduate 6 months later with no injury, then tell your other job you're not coming back? so they've just held onto your job for nothing?

[NWFlyer 2]

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Too many scammers have injured themselves and claimed the 75% in the past.

You're looking for a way to do the same thing to your current company.

If you are honest with them about wanting to try a new career path and they are willing to hold onto your job for six months, then that's great, it's a win-win for you and for them; they have the possibility of getting a good employee back (I'm assuming if you've been there three years you're providing some value to them), and you get a chance to explore something new.

If you lie to them about a reason for needing 6 months off then after the 6 months you just say "sorry, not coming back after all, I'm going to be a cop now" well, how is that not a scam?

Think hard about this. Let's say you go and for whatever reason you wash out. You are then going to come back to your old job, having to lie. You're going to take 6 months of your life and all the things that happen during it and have to LIE about it.

You're gonna get caught up in that at some point.

[narcimund 0]

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so your plan is to hold on to your job while you're in the academy, but when you graduate 6 months later with no injury, then tell your other job you're not coming back? so they've just held onto your job for nothing?

I would have said this much, much more strongly but I'm feeling tactful this morning.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[squirrel 0]

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You just never know. What happens if I get hit by a car while I'm in the Academy? What if a loose pitbull mauls my leg?

or...what if you have a double malfunction? jeez, there are plenty of jobs out there.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[GravityGirl 0]

Sounds like your current job offers many great benefits. Abusing that will only make it go away in the future for fellow employees.

My vote is be honest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[Michele 1]

Are you planning on being dishonest while you're in the academy, and then once you're a cop? 'Cause the road you choose now will be the road you're committed to for a long time.

Geesh...

See, if you're honest, and let them know you've enjoyed working for them, and want to move on to your dream job, you leave the door open. If you lie, then you shut all doors...imagine what the background check will reveal if they smell a lie...you're out without an injury.

Don't lie. Be honest. For heaven's sake, you're wanting to be a cop. To stop lying now would be a good choice...

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[Dumpster 0]

Don't B.S. them - If you're straight up with them, and leave on good terms, the odds are better that:

- If things don't work out at the academy, you chances of going back to work for the company are better.

- If they can't take you back, you'll be able to use them as a favorable reference.

- Your honor and personal integrity remain intact.

[SuperKat 0]

It not as cold as it sounds. They won't pay me anything while I'm out on leave. They'll hire a consultant to fill in for me while I'm out. No one gets @ssed out. It doesn't cost them anything. Actually, they'll save money by hiring a consultant. Anyway, this thread is about giving advice about what I can present to HR. If you have any gripes about me doing this, please make another thread about it. Thanks.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

True but someone else that was honest about it and went to the Police Academy a few years ago, didn't get their job back when they didn't make the cut and they honest about it. It won't cost the company anything to have me out and for them to hire a consultant in my place. I'm taking an unpaid leave of absence. And if just so happens that I don't come back, they can hire someone else. Why would you think they'd be hurt by it. We're a big company and we're movers and shakers. They can hire someone to fill my position within a day.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[SuperKat 0]

It's not a small mom and pop operation, my friend. My company made 600 million dollars this past year. It will cost them a cent if I'm out on leave. They can hire a consultant at a cheaper rate to replace me for the time being.

What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss, Friendo?

[narcimund 0]

Nobody said this was cold. Everyone said it was dishonest.

Your original request was for a legitimate excuse. I think what you really meant to say was:

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Help! I need a legitimate sounding excuse.

In other words, a lie.

One can only hope the police academy weeds out people who lie before they become cops. Experience says they don't.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[BartsDaddy 7]

Like others have said tell HR the truth.

Handguns are only used to fight your way to a good rifle

[AlexCrowley 0]

it'll certainly make the initial screening processes interesting. Maybe they dont make you sit a polygraph test there though.

Nice moral flexibility though. If you get thru please be the cop to stop me when I'm speeding. I'll have $50 waiting for you.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[NWFlyer 2]

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It won't cost the company anything to have me out and for them to hire a consultant in my place

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Why would you think they'd be hurt by it.

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And they won't go for it because I'll have benefits during this time while on leave.

Benefits aren't free.

You are clearly going to do what you want here, but don't look to me to help you justify it. And good luck not getting tripped up with the lies when you come back.

[narcimund 0]

Are you willing to have your new employer know how you treated your last one?

I have an idea. Why don't you ask the manager of the police academy what they recommend you say to your current employer?

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[McDuck 0]

You can ask them if they have a sabbatical policy and what their requirements are for it. Otherwise, just ask for the leave of absence. Most companies that allow for a 6-month leave of absence without pay aren't going to have many problems with it...from my limited experience.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[Deuce 1]

FMLA is just 12 weeks. If you are in a union or association you may have negotiated a better benefit. My POA did.

If you are the primary caregiver to your Dad, this is a legitimate use of the FMLA benefit. Do your 8 hours of academy time and then do your bookwork every evening at your Dad's bedside while your mom or whoever does the other stuff required by the household. Use up the 3 months FMLA and take 3 months leave.

I was a cop when I had my twins and my employer specifically stated only two weeks per birth event, not per baby. We were first time parents and the pregnancy was difficult and when the babies came we were in a state of complete mental and physical breakdown. My commander at the time (best man I ever knew in any bureaucracy) told me I could have 6 months (might have been a year) if I wanted them. Or until my accruals ran out. I ended up taking 6 weeks.

My Dad had colon cancer and ended up having an iliostomy (like a colostomy but pretty much everything south of the stomach). Taking FMLA to assist with his care is legitimate.

Consider this, too. How much money is there in your quitting? How much vacation, retirement etc have you accrued? If there is enough there to just quit, write a nice letter of resignation. If the police thing doesn't work out, they'll hire you back.

Be honest with yourself first and formost. If you are really going to help with your dad a good portion of every day, take the FMLA.

If another family member is taking care of your dad and doesn't need or want your help, don't use it.

Consider telling your company you want to take the six month leave to learn about the cop thing, and then go on leave until your accruals run out, and decide.

For those of you harping on Superkat about screwing her employer over, she could join the reserve or guard and her employer would have to keep her job until she finished basic and then whatever finishing school she chose.

If I could have my way, the police service and retirement would be much more like the military versions. There is only one 50 year old cop in a thousand capable of laying the proper amount of whoop-ass on an 18 year old felon. Most cops, like me, end up retired on disabilities (backs, feets, carpal). For the ones that don't get promoted inside, a retirement at 41 would keep more of them on board. (I'd have stayed, by my chief HATED me . Hated with captital FORCED RETIREMENT)

Good luck Kat. With your new job, and with your dad. Both are going to be hard.

Ah, but the payoff is being a big fat meanie.

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[NWFlyer 2]

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For those of you harping on Superkat about screwing her employer over, she could join the reserve or guard and her employer would have to keep her job until she finished basic and then whatever finishing school she chose.

Deuce, I usually agree with your posts, and everything I've seen/heard about you indicates you prefer to live your life with integrity. I gotta disagree with you here.

The fact is that going to the Police Academy is not a protected employment category like the guard/reserves.

SuperKat is looking for a lie to tell the employer, knowing that the truth will likely lead to a job loss in this situation. Sure, it's a big company (and searching past posts, we know exactly which company) and the financial impact will likely be the equivalent of a rounding error on the bottom line, but that's not the point.