Vacations

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Oct 13, 2020 12:00:03 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I always think - what will happen if I get hit by a car or bus tomorrow - life will go on. I am not indispensable, so I take my vacation days and enjoy them. They know to call me if something is completely broken, but between everyone in the team, they should be able to figure things out. 

If they can't then we have a bigger issue. 

That is pretty much what happened to me, but the lab continued on.  I had been the core of the lab for nearly 30 years too!

Several projects came to a screeching halt.  Nothing more got done on them, despite the fact that the early number crunching I did showed some really promising things.  8 years later....squat.

[raeoflyte]

Oct 13, 2020 12:00:03 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I always think - what will happen if I get hit by a car or bus tomorrow - life will go on. I am not indispensable, so I take my vacation days and enjoy them. They know to call me if something is completely broken, but between everyone in the team, they should be able to figure things out. 

If they can't then we have a bigger yissue. 

I don't think I'm that important that they can't function without me. But until I'm hit by a bus, or otherwise not coming back I'm the one who gets to clean up the mess.

Its an industry problem in my case, not company driven, but I'm definitely wondering these days if I could make a change to something that allowed a better work/life balance and make close to the same money.

[Apple]

Feds typically max out at 208 hours/year (with a carry-over of 240).  Add in 10 holidays, and you could get about 7 weeks off spread throughout the year (based on a 5/8 schedule-- I get the same number of hours of leave, but work longer days, so can end up being fewer actual days).

I took 6 weeks off in 2015 to do 5 weeks around Europe.  It was awesome, and I cannot wait until my budget priorities allow for longer trips like that again.  Last year I spent 9 days in Sweden/Finland, and this year I was supposed to spend two weeks on a road trip with my dad and brother (but, well...)

I actually donated some leave last year, first time ever, but the recipient was 100% worth it, IMO.  Otherwise, there is no way I'm giving up an hour of my vacation time.  Even if I spend it at home doing nothing, it's better than going into work (however, my work doesn't "pile up" on me either--all duties are completed within a work shift, so I could be gone for a month and the most I'd have to do is catch up on a handful of emails that I actually "need" to read.)

ETA: I'm part of a "team" of 9 equals, and 6 who started with my job and "advanced" to the next level (which is pretty much a desk job and my version of hell).  While we each have our own bit of special skills or knowledge, all 9 of us do the same job, same duties, etc.  One of our guys was hit literally hit by a truck, and work did not miss a beat (though we all miss the hell out of him!)  I have no illusions that it will be any different when I leave forever (preferably through early retirement though).

[stillmovingforward]

I've always believed that if work can't function without you, someone isn't training or supporting your team correctly.
I had a boss who would brag that he could leave for vacation and we won't even notice. We'd start meetings without him, etc. He was a great boss.

[wvugurl26]

At my work its a function of headcount. We are all drowning and doing the work of at least two people or more. There's no time to be doing crosstraining. And further, the current big shot boss wants us in one single area with no overlap. Given that there's only enough of us to put one auditor per area, there is no backup potential under her plan.

I went out for three weeks unplanned in 2015 for gallbladder surgery. I was fine until I wasn't. They got by and handled the most urgent matters. Cleaning up from that was a nightmare.

[Deleted]

Oct 12, 2020 17:15:12 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I get 5 weeks a year and can accrue up to 300 hours. I just checked and I have 292 hours of pto.

Ive taken 89.5 hours so far this year, but most of that was for jury duty time for the 3 week trial I ended up on.

We have limited vacation coverage, and especially now with everyone so busy, anything that's not on fire won't get worked on if you're out.

I'm so burnt out though and I think a 2 week break is the only way I could recouperate and find some semblance of a good attitude again. If I get through this month, and we get my replacement fairly well trained, I need to talk to boss about taking a couple weeks.

You didn't have to use PTO for jury duty, did you?  I thought employers covered that.  They might confiscate the $10 a day or whatever you get "paid" (LOL), but I didn't think you had to take vacation to perform your civic duty.

[Lizard Queen]

When it comes right down to it, they simply don't want to pay for proper coverage. They overwork people on a regular basis, and call that normal.

[stillmovingforward]

Yuck! I was very fortunate and still am.

[raeoflyte]

Oct 13, 2020 16:44:59 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Oct 12, 2020 17:15:12 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

I get 5 weeks a year and can accrue up to 300 hours. I just checked and I have 292 hours of pto.

Ive taken 89.5 hours so far this year, but most of that was for jury duty time for the 3 week trial I ended up on.

We have limited vacation coverage, and especially now with everyone so busy, anything that's not on fire won't get worked on if you're out.

I'm so burnt out though and I think a 2 week break is the only way I could recouperate and find some semblance of a good attitude again. If I get through this month, and we get my replacement fairly well trained, I need to talk to boss about taking a couple weeks.

You didn't have to use PTO for jury duty, did you?  I thought employers covered that.  They might confiscate the $10 a day or whatever you get "paid" (LOL), but I didn't think you had to take vacation to perform your civic duty.

They paid for 5 days. The rest I'd have to take it unpaid if I didnt have pto.

[Deleted]

Oct 13, 2020 16:59:39 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Oct 13, 2020 16:44:59 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

You didn't have to use PTO for jury duty, did you?  I thought employers covered that.  They might confiscate the $10 a day or whatever you get "paid" (LOL), but I didn't think you had to take vacation to perform your civic duty.

They paid for 5 days. The rest I'd have to take it unpaid if I didnt have pto.

That is wrong. I know it is a hardship for the employer, but it shouldn't also be a hardship for the employee.  

If it is unpaid and you are working, do they exempt those who cannot afford to go without pay?  I know different states have different laws, but still . . . 

[justme]

Oct 13, 2020 11:10:35 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

This thread makes me sad. In Europe, Australia, etc. (many other countries) it's encouraged to take 6-8 weeks at a time to see the world. Makes ya think...

It's crap. I'm in the process of looking for more jobs and you pretty much restart your vacation time again. Like damn I'm a decade into my career why do I have the same time off as a newbie fresh from college? 

I know one company a recruiter thinks I'd fit for is the same I have now and a bigger company so I dunno if I can get more. Another is a smaller company - but it's headquartered in Denmark so I'm crossing my fingers that influences the US branches. 

[raeoflyte]

Oct 13, 2020 17:21:33 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

Oct 13, 2020 16:59:39 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

They paid for 5 days. The rest I'd have to take it unpaid if I didnt have pto.

That is wrong. I know it is a hardship for the employer, but it shouldn't also be a hardship for the employee.  

If it is unpaid and you are working, do they exempt those who cannot afford to go without pay?  I know different states have different laws, but still . . . 

The people who said it would be a financial hardship were asked if they would still give their attention to the case. One guy said he didnt think he could - and fair enough! Lots of people cant go over 2 weeks without pay.

[raeoflyte]

Oct 13, 2020 17:34:02 GMT -5 justme said:

Oct 13, 2020 11:10:35 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

This thread makes me sad. In Europe, Australia, etc. (many other countries) it's encouraged to take 6-8 weeks at a time to see the world. Makes ya think...

It's crap. I'm in the process of looking for more jobs and you pretty much restart your vacation time again. Like damn I'm a decade into my career why do I have the same time off as a newbie fresh from college? 

I know one company a recruiter thinks I'd fit for is the same I have now and a bigger company so I dunno if I can get more. Another is a smaller company - but it's headquartered in Denmark so I'm crossing my fingers that influences the US branches. 

Negotiate! At 10 years in you should start with a minimum of 3 weeks. I wouldnt accept anything under 4 weeks now.

Apparently so that I can accrue the max and then just lose them, but still! I want that time, and someday I'm going to take it!

[justme]

Oct 13, 2020 18:27:33 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

Oct 13, 2020 17:34:02 GMT -5 justme said:

It's crap. I'm in the process of looking for more jobs and you pretty much restart your vacation time again. Like damn I'm a decade into my career why do I have the same time off as a newbie fresh from college? 

I know one company a recruiter thinks I'd fit for is the same I have now and a bigger company so I dunno if I can get more. Another is a smaller company - but it's headquartered in Denmark so I'm crossing my fingers that influences the US branches. 

Negotiate! At 10 years in you should start with a minimum of 3 weeks. I wouldnt accept anything under 4 weeks now.

Apparently so that I can accrue the max and then just lose them, but still! I want that time, and someday I'm going to take it!

It's on my list. Though I'm at 3 weeks here and won't get 4 for another 4 years so going to another place with 3 isn't the worst. But omg I'm so tired of 3 weeks! My job before this one I was at 4 and months before I got 5 before they fucked up the gov contract I was on and basically said peace.

I dunno how much large companies can though. I was talking with another one and they basically said no.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Oct 13, 2020 16:47:03 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

When it comes right down to it, they simply don't want to pay for proper coverage. They overwork people on a regular basis, and call that normal.

Yep.  I am very aware I am not irreplaceable.


But as long as I hold the job shit rolls down hill and I'm expected to clean up any messes when I return.

It falls on deaf ears that I'm juggling two workloads.  I'm told to manage my time better.   

So while I know I'm entitled to two weeks plus one carry over but it feels easier just to never take it.

Plus I have kids and only 3 sick days a year.   It makes sense to hoard vacation in case something happens and I need to be on kid duty.

 
I plan on taking more one or two days off at a time  next year along with optimistically  booking my summer vacation.   

A couple days of space every so often will likely do me better mentally than two weeks straight where afterwards my life is made hell out of spite and then I'm out of PTO for tge rest of the year.

[Cookies Galore]

I get nearly eight weeks of PTO and my husband gets two weeks. I fucking hate that disparity. Luckily, I've gotten used to taking time to myself. Like, we might do a long weekend down the shore (Saturday-Tuesday) and he'll go back to work on Wednesday but I'll be off the whole week. I hate his lack of time off, but he was at a job that made him severely depressed and the new one isn't killing him, so I'll let it slide for a bit. But if we ever want to take a two-week vacation then he needs a new job.

I do take two weeks off in December. My production schedule is slow enough that practically my whole team takes off for 2-3 weeks. I love my year-end recharge.

[thyme4change]

I'm on vacation right now. I worked most of Monday, and will work most of today. Boo.

The only 2 week vacation I took was over Christmas and New Years. I think I only took 6 vacation days, and the rest were holidays and weekends. My boss was so nervous. I told him he wouldn't even know I was gone because so many people took vacation there was nothing to do. As it turns out, I was right. I think he only worked like 2 days while I was gone.

[Ryan]

I get around 5 weeks of vacation and take all of it.  I prefer taking 5-6 days off and then wrapping it around 2 weekends, which will give you a good 10-11 days.  

My kids are entering the stage where they are much more self sufficient so vacations are starting to feel more like vacations again.  

My employer and managers don't say anything about scheduling time off.  The only time it would get denied is if too many people were taking it at once.

[Miss Tequila]

Oct 13, 2020 17:34:02 GMT -5 justme said:

Oct 13, 2020 11:10:35 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

This thread makes me sad. In Europe, Australia, etc. (many other countries) it's encouraged to take 6-8 weeks at a time to see the world. Makes ya think...

It's crap. I'm in the process of looking for more jobs and you pretty much restart your vacation time again. Like damn I'm a decade into my career why do I have the same time off as a newbie fresh from college? 

I know one company a recruiter thinks I'd fit for is the same I have now and a bigger company so I dunno if I can get more. Another is a smaller company - but it's headquartered in Denmark so I'm crossing my fingers that influences the US branches. 

Don’t ever accept the vacation that they give you. I’ve always negotiated and received what I wanted. I also have always given more than the “newbie” vacation allotment to the seasoned staff.

[justme]

Oct 14, 2020 18:52:16 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Oct 13, 2020 17:34:02 GMT -5 justme said:

It's crap. I'm in the process of looking for more jobs and you pretty much restart your vacation time again. Like damn I'm a decade into my career why do I have the same time off as a newbie fresh from college? 

I know one company a recruiter thinks I'd fit for is the same I have now and a bigger company so I dunno if I can get more. Another is a smaller company - but it's headquartered in Denmark so I'm crossing my fingers that influences the US branches. 

Don’t ever accept the vacation that they give you. I’ve always negotiated and received what I wanted. I also have always given more than the “newbie” vacation allotment to the seasoned staff.

Awesome, good to know. I tried at my current job but it was through a recruiter so I have no idea how hard they pressed and at the time I was more excited to just have a job (was getting laid off due to gov contract being ended) and happy that they gave me my reach salary that I figured it was good enough. 

The two jobs I have are from recruiters contacting me again, but this time I'll be a bit more forceful about 4 weeks of vacation.