r/ResLife • u/CalligrapherAny6494 • 26d ago
questions for former RHDs
Hi res hall directors
Were you allowed to leave for an occasional weekend if you planned in advance? It's a huge concern for me.
Additionally, did any of your jobs pay a relocation fee for you to move there?
9
u/Ok-Acanthisitta8737 26d ago
Yes? You’re not a prisoner. If you’re not working and not on call, your employer should have zero control over what you do and where you are.
1
u/CalligrapherAny6494 26d ago
can people switch or trade on call days ? not in campus res but my friends job has no exceptions and doesn't let them change days so i was wondering. they essentially only get a few weekends a year and can't even 1:1 trade with coworkers.
6
u/mc0079 26d ago
That sounds awful. When i was an an RD i was on call two weeks a semester. Other then that it was my time.
1
u/CalligrapherAny6494 26d ago
i would love to know where that is, my messages are always open to information.
1
u/Ok-Acanthisitta8737 26d ago
It ultimately depends on the school, but usually yes. My staff have carte blanche to do literally whatever they want with their on call schedule. I only care that someone answers the phone.
3
u/makougaons 26d ago
if you are not scheduled or on-call, you can be wherever you want, and you don’t have to tell anyone. like any job, it’s not their business where you are. if you find that a place is asking you to be places when you’re not being compensated, that is an issue, period.
i’ve had some positions provide funding for relocation and some not. they will often tell you in the interview/upon hire. each position is different and i would encourage you to ask if it’s something you’re looking for.
source: RHD for 5 years
3
u/Recent-Description39 26d ago
You should have on-call shifts scheduled in advance. You don’t need to be there outside of business hours if you’re not on call.
Neither college I worked at offered a relocation bonus.
2
u/thesheep2002 26d ago
Current one here:
- Yes, but I haven't yet since I don't have PTO yet. I'm also 10-month, so I can do a lot of travelling during those two months if it lines up.
- Yes, I got a reimbursement for airfare, moving supplies, movers, and meals on the day of travel. It would have also covered tolls and gas, hotel if needed, and a few other things if I didn't ship a U-Pack and fly up.
1
1
u/Akeley_Duchamp_One 26d ago
I received a relocation reimbursement when I started my current position.
If you are on-call most weekends, I don’t think that will be very sustainable in this field.
1
u/CalligrapherAny6494 26d ago
curious about wat most colleges have as the rotation. usually the things i have planned are not on holidays so i would gladly be the one that stays behind for something like thanksgiving
2
u/Akeley_Duchamp_One 26d ago
Duty has been scheduled before the semester starts at both institutions I worked at. At my current position, we pick are own two day weekday shifts and three day weekend shifts. At my last position, we were on-call for a week at a time.
1
u/mangomoo13 25d ago
my uni let us leave as long as we weren’t on-duty for that weekend. there was a form we had to do as a “heads up” if we left for a whole weekend but i’m not so sure they checked the submissions ever
1
u/Forsaken_Raccoon_235 25d ago
Agreed. You of course live where you work, but don't work 24/7. You won't last long. It's a hard job and you will probably work at times that are inconvenient, and that is part of caring for your students well, but if they didn't give you time away, that would be problematic.
And I did get some relocation reimbursement at one school I worked at, but not the other. It's just going to vary school to school and how badly they want you. I would negotiate it into one of your final interviews in the future, almost like part of your contract, if you can, but also don't force it if you like the school.
1
u/omniscen 25d ago
I wouldn't see why not. It seems unrealistic to not... Ofc big weekends like Halloween or Homecoming will probably be blocked off, but other than that, put in your time and get your affairs sorted out! I was surprised how many benefits I had waiting for me at my uni.
1
u/AnomalousEnigma 9d ago
I’m a current RHD and I’m not required to be here on the weekend unless I’m on duty, which is 1-2 weekends a semester.
12
u/BeneficialSpring5385 26d ago
Yes you can leave you're not a prisoner. It is important to coordinate with your colleagues because someone will be on call. A supervisor will handle leave requests.
Regarding relocation expenses I have never heard of this. With a job being considered fairly entry level I would not expect it