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Anyone elses Filipino VA taking a 2 day holiday?

by thedog
9 replies
So, I signed up with VA service a week ago.

I've just been told that their VA's are taking 2 days off... holy Thursday and holy Friday...

Is this normal?
#day #elses #filipino #holiday #taking
  • Profile picture of the author norrimac
    Nothing's 'normal'. If your VA is religious, he/she may decide to work or not work.

    If your VA is employed, then he/she may have no choice.

    However, if self-employed, public holidays should have been agreed before you signed up. (Actually, that should have been discussed in any case!)

    IMHO that's poor service and I'd sack them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rachel Incoll
    My Filipino article writer is taking today & tomorrow off as well for holy week celebrations which I don't have a problem with.

    I guess it's something that should be agreed upon before starting so everyone is clear - whether or not public holidays are worked.

    Cheers

    Rachel
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  • Profile picture of the author Jun Balona
    Originally Posted by thedog View Post

    So, I signed up with VA service a week ago.

    I've just been told that their VA's are taking 2 days off... holy Thursday and holy Friday...

    Is this normal?
    Seems to me that this VA service that you've signed in employs a lot of Filipinos.

    If that is the case then yes, it's perfectly normal. Everyone's now taking a break due to the Lenten season (aka the "Holy Week").

    That includes me of course.
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  • Profile picture of the author magiclouie
    Actually, it really depends on you as an employer on how to address that. I can still remember when I first started working as a VA last 2009, my employer scolded me for the first time. It's not about the output of my work, but because I did not inform her about a national non-working holiday. She wanted me to enjoy those holidays but with pay, hence I am hesitant to inform her. Guess what, I am still working with her and she even encouraged me to have my own online business.

    If not most, many Filipinos are quite shy.

    So to the OP, you should talk to your VA. Are those days off with pay or not? Perhaps you could come up with an arrangement that your VA will just make up some time.

    In the event that there are no very important projects that need to be done the soonest, why not allow them to have those days off? Just a suggestion though.

    Personally, I haven't tried working via Odesk. I am not sure what VA service are you talking about as well.

    Cheers,
    Louie Tugas
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  • Profile picture of the author Avdo
    I think this is normal, and I know for us, IMers, two days are a lot when you have some plan, and it needs to be done..

    Two months ago, I have received an email from the VA service that I was working with, and the message was that they will be on hollydays for 9 days!!! "holly something" I don't remember exactly what was hollyday
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    • Profile picture of the author Nortamzzo
      Could the holidays be protected by law? I know in Mexico there are several religious holidays that are protected, and American businesses have no choice but to honor those for their employees working in Mexico, or face severance pay and fines.

      But then again I know a lot mroe about Mexican law than Filipino law, so it may be very different.
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnJonasVA
        Banned
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        • Profile picture of the author thedog
          Originally Posted by JohnJonasVA View Post

          Yes, there are certain Filipino holidays that are protected by law. But if you hired your Filipino VA directly, some of these holidays can be negotiated. For example, if your VA is not particularly religious, he or she may even prefer to work on certain holidays.

          The best ways is to simple talk to your VA and ask him/her what holidays they observe and what they don't.
          It's grand, I don't mind them taking a holiday.

          The agency I use said they'd re-emburse me anyway.

          I'm working in China myself, and a)wouldn't expect to get easter off and if I did, I wouldn't expect to be paid.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgeC
    Yeah, it depends, We have 3 staff members from the philipnes and theyll be working without interruptions, they didnt mention anything, but yes, it is because of the catholic holly week, so thursday to sunday are holly days
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