Slacker tip #157 - wait at least 30 days to call in at your new job
If you are starting a new job, it is important to not call in too quick.
I think a good rule of thumb is to wait at least 30 days, or about a month, before calling in. I say this for a couple of reasons.
First, you need to feel out the new job for a while. It can take some time to get in your slacker groove when you start a new job. Sometimes you have two weeks of training. And sometimes you just need to learn the routines of everyone else so that you know when you can get away with doing nothing. You also need to get a feel for how they handle absences. You are bound to see at least one person call in during that month. That means you get to see what is expected of them when they return - doctor’s note? or no?
Manager also do some ‘mental accounting’ of your absences. If you are new, they will be paying special attention to you. If you call in within the first week or two, they will make a mental note to keep a close eye on you because you just started and have already called in. On the flipside, if you go a month looking like the perfect little employee then they will think that they do not need to keep an eye on you.
Just remember, it takes about 30 days to game the system here.
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