Career Clinic: Can I take time off from my TC for cosmetic surgery?

Do it during your unpaid leave following your TC. You will almost certainly attract unwanted attention for doing it during your TC.

Anon. -15 Jan 2009 | 07:59

Just shows your level of commitment to your TC. This is pretty serious business, and firms spend a lot on you for some level of committment. Wanting to take time off for cosmetic surgery shows your poor judgement and timing....

Magic Circle -15 Jan 2009 | 08:46

Ignore magic circle poster. it is a hugely personal decision and one you have no doubt spent a long time thinking about (speaking as someone who finally had a minor cosmetic op aged 30 after years of agonising - was changing jobs so was easy). Life is not just about your job so go ahead, but the suggestion of fitting it into your unpaid leave is a good one, or try and do it at seat changeover - you could have a word with HR in confidence and say you are having some minor treatment without actually telling them what the op is.

associate, city -15 Jan 2009 | 11:00

The issue should not be whether you can take time off for cosmetic surgery but simply whether you are allowed to take three weeks together: what you do on your holiday time is your own business, whether it be extended honeymoon, cosmetic surgery or whatever. With sufficient notice, your firm should be able to accommodate this as a one-off if they do not routinely allow three-week holidays. Taking your holiday entitlement does not mean you are less committed to your training contract. Worst case, if someone does find out or you are pushed to explain your request, it will be news for about a day then everyone will forget about it.

Anonymous -15 Jan 2009 | 11:12

Firstly, people WILL notice - even a tiny change, that's just how noses are. They stick out and people notice. But if you're uncomfortable with your nose then I think its great that you are doing something about it. I wouldn't worry about trying to hide that. I agree with the other comment though - three weeks is a long time off, so it may be best to take it as qualification leave.

Fair Comment -15 Jan 2009 | 11:15

I made the original comment about doing it during qualification leave. I don't think going to HR and saying you are having a minor treatment is the way forward as they will assume it is for medical, rather than cosmetic, reasons. This may lead to embarrassing and unwanted attention from colleagues who think that they are being caring and considerate. You said you wanted to avoid attention being drawn to it, and so if you have it done during qualification leave, people are less likely to notice minor changes in appearance by the time you return to the office. However, if it is something you genuinely think is affecting your self-confidence and hence your ability to do your job, perhaps it is better to get it done sooner rather than later (although I would be open with HR about it).

Anon. -15 Jan 2009 | 11:43

"Worst case, if someone does find out or you are pushed to explain your request, it will be news for about a day then everyone will forget about it."There's no way that will be true. As soon as it's noticed (which, as others have suggested, it undoubtedly will be), you will be known everafter as the trainee who had a nose job.

US Associate -15 Jan 2009 | 13:25

Whatever you do, don't go to HR (depending on where you work, they are not exactly known for their tact and discretion) and reveal that you are having a nose job. And don't suggest, implicitly, you need it because it will help your confidence. I am not making judgements about your decision but HR certainly will. On the other hand, why shouldn't you take three weeks off? Lots of people do so when going on holiday to Australia.

I Nose Best -15 Jan 2009 | 13:35

By saying that people will probably not notice it implies (to me) that it is something which can wait - in which case, if I were you I would wait until you were qualified. That said, whether you are taken on or not will almost entirely be because of your (work) performance and not how much holiday you have taken in one go. But I think that the other poster's suggestion is good that if you do insist on doing in whilst a trainee you do it between seats -then hardly anyone will notice.

Cynical Cynthia -15 Jan 2009 | 14:11

This trainee is oblivious to the real world. People are happy just to have a job these days. Dithering over a nose job and what to do shows that this person will never become a good assertive lawyer.

nearly qualified -15 Jan 2009 | 14:18

Involve HR? There is every chance they will make it into an even bigger issue, involving other people in your firm including some very senior people. You don't want to waste their time, it's embarassing enough as it is. Just tell your boss you need three weeks off and give him/her plenty of notice. And I would mention the reason for the time off, only because you may need a bit more time off than the three weeks. I had an op last year and expected to be back at work within teo weeks; in the end I was off for about eight weeks because of a slow initial recovery, made worse by a post-surgical complication. My bosses were very understanding and I was able to recuperate, without worrying that I was taking so much time off. For an optional procedure like cosmetic surgery, there is an even bigger case of keeping your bosses informed and not troubling your co-workers - and I would try and avoid the peak holiday season when everybody wants a break. Good luck.

May -15 Jan 2009 | 14:20

One of the following? a) live with it and do something less painful with the money; b) be open about it, you won't kid anyone; or c) ignore comments and follow your nose.

In da house -15 Jan 2009 | 14:36

Dithering over a nose job has never defined anyone's ability as a lawyer. What nonsense.

Fair Comment -15 Jan 2009 | 16:15

In this economic climate the best option surely is to hang on to your cash just in case - or use it for some therapy sessions so that you can come to terms with your nose without having to undergo surgery on it.Your nose clearly has not held you back in life so far. It sounds as though it's your feelings about yourself that are the real problem. Once your nose is 'fixed' who is to say you'll feel any better - won't you just get anxious about some other aspect of your appearance? And if saving does not appeal given the terrible interest rates, why not just use the cash to have a wonderful holiday somewhere - much nicer than three weeks sitting at home in pain feeling sorry for yourself.

Anonymous -15 Jan 2009 | 16:41

Do it during your quartly leave as suggested. As well as the swelling, you shouldn't underestimate the psychological impact of changes like this, doing it during the first three weeks of a six-week break will give you three weeks getting used to it with people who don't know you or your old nose (I'm assuming here you go off and travel for the second three weeks), and you can then go back to work confident in your new self. I'd favour this rather than spending your three weeks worrying about whether the swelling will go down in time, about what people will think/say, and then risking feeling unhappy because some wanker said something misguided in an attempt to be funny on your first day back.In all seriousness - give some thought to booking a session or two with a psychologist to discuss also. No shame in this, no need to tell anyone, and you may find it as helpful as the nose job.

Stupot -15 Jan 2009 | 16:51

Are you sure your current firm will offer you a job post-qualification? If you've saved money I would hang around to see if you need it to live on at the end of your training contract. If you do get offered a job, do it then. I wouldn't spend money unless I really needed to.

Helen -15 Jan 2009 | 16:51

PS you can get a psychologist referral from your NHS GP.

Stupot -15 Jan 2009 | 16:56

If this is your most pressing concern, your lack of market awareness is more of an issue than a three-week holiday...

Magic circle DR associate -16 Jan 2009 | 12:02

I'm gobsmacked my the comments of the pessimists, shrinks and fear-mongers. The poor trainee asked a simple question, the answer to which is 'no, but it would be better to wait until your block leave pre-qualification'. You should definitely go for the op - I know for fact that no one will notice at work because people are too self-obsessed. For a few thousand pounds, you can be comfortable with your own appearance. Laywers are so negative and risk averse. Good luck

Anon -16 Jan 2009 | 13:53

Would it be inappropriate to suggest not cutting off your nose to spite your face?

Le grand nez -16 Jan 2009 | 14:22

A nose is for life, not just for Christmas. That said, I am concerned at the attitude of many of the commentators here - deal with it confidently (as opposed to the arrogance of inexperience that often appears to be demonstrated here) and providing you aren't being unreasonable - which means if they say no, you have to accept it - then anything is achievable. That is the true test of a lawyer's skills - try anything with confidence and, as long as your attitude is right, you will have nothing to lose.

Too old to be reading this page -16 Jan 2009 | 16:22

I am sorry, but whilst it is probably a really important decision for you (and I am not downplaying that), if you can't even figure this one out for yourself having thought about everything involved with the procedure etc, I don't how you will be able to advise your clients on qualification. I wouldn't worry about a nose job, you should probably find your own internal guidance mechanism.

keeping it real -16 Jan 2009 | 16:29