Have you ever negotiated more vacation time in the job offer process?

[alliecats]

Just wondering how common it is to be able to negotiate more vacation time than the company normally allocates to new hires. Please share your stories (and advice, if you have it).

Thanks!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I am age 47 - and always negotiate vacation. Once took less money for 4 weeks of vacation. Time off is that important to me. My current job I was offered 2 weeks, I said I needed 4, they countered 3, I said I needed 4 - that I work incredibly hard and would prove myself.
I got the four weeks. My first yearly evaluation they agreed I totally deserved it.
Fight for what you are worth!

 

[BellsFam]

DH just negotiated a weeks vacation at once (as opposed to waiting for one year of employment) and almost a two dollar an hour in pay increase.

He was "hunted" as he is great at what he does and in order for him to leave his current job (he wasn't looking) he said that's what it took...

They gave it to him...

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Yup - the last 2 jobs I had I negotiated and extra 2 weeks per year. They didn't have that great of a pay and I decided I liked the jobs but needed to get something extra so I went for it.
One countered but I stuck to what I wanted and got it - the other just gave it to me. Both times the companies had called me to see if I'd be interested in the jobs due to people I knew already working there who recommended me.

This was more than 10 years ago so things might be different now but it wouldn't hurt to try and get more vacation if that is what you want.

 

[powellrj]

My DH just started a new job and wasn't entitled to any vacation for a year, but he was able to get the week off we already had paid for at WDW.

 

[JimmyBean42]

Always negotiate the vacation (and money if you've done your research. Use things like Glassdoor to help). But always recognize the total number of weeks factors on your industry, years experience and a few other things.

 

[wvjules]

I never have. My first professional job was as a government contractor which pretty much followed the DOL guidelines for wages and PTO so no room for negotiations. My current job started out with 5 weeks so no need to ask for more. Good thing because I'm a horrible negotiator.

 

[tvguy]

I am aware of many "new" hires who tried to negotiate additional vacation time, both with, and without pay, and I am not aware of any that were successful. But in the current state of my industry. most folks stay in a job 2 years, and get 2 weeks vacation, and never make it to 5 years for the bump up to 3 weeks, and that is just fine with the corporate owners.

I am aware of a co-worker who was a top on air personality with over 20 years with the company who attempted to get 2 months off without pay in addition to his 4 weeks paid vacation every year and was turned down. He had found an opportunity that had him working the month of August and paid him more than he was making working full time. So he resigned and decided to just work that second job. 2 months later he was back after the company called him and said if he came back he would get a raise, 4 weeks paid vacation and 2 months leave.

 

[Bearvet]

DS23 just graduated from college and negotiated vacation time during his first year. He got it. DS27 said if you plan to negotiate, just pick 1 thing and make it reasonable.

 

[BearFamily]

DH did negotiate an additional 2 weeks of vacation successfully. It helped that:

1. he was being "wooed" - company leadership wanted him for a specific position and actively recruited him, putting him in a better position to negotiate
2. they knew it was a match to the vacation time he had at the company he was leaving, previous to it being bought (the people hiring him had left that company after the takeover to start their own business)
3. they knew they could not match his current health benefits (moving from very large company to very small) so it was something they could actually offer him instead
4. they knew him personally and knew that we rarely travel for extended periods - he is much more likely to take half a vacation day here or there for his hobby. That's much more doable in his industry than a week or more of consecutive vacation days.

As a teacher, I have never been in a position to be able to negotiate any benefits whatsoever.

 

[Skippy918]

I tried to, but it was a no go. Everyone starts at the same PTO. I love my job but it did suck going from 5 weeks PTO to 12 days. I don't know if I'll be there long enough to earn a sabbatical.
I was able to negotiate unpaid leave for Christmas break since I had already had plans. I started my job right after thanksgiving.

 

[QueenIsabella]

It really depends on the circumstances. Some companies/industries don't negotiate. Others will, but it really depends on the company and the person getting the job offer.

In my DH's case, he asked for and received 3 weeks of vacation from the start, at both of his last two jobs (current one, and the one he took in 2008). He's also north of 50, with 30 years experience in the nuclear field, so he brings a lot to the table. OTOH, he didn't ask for more money (he was already getting a nice bump), and he got a really good relocation package--better than some of his co-workers did. He even got a raise and large bonus this year, which we weren't expecting, since he hadn't been with the company for a year at the time. But, that speaks to his skills and work ethic--we knew once they got to know him, the money would come, so he didn't want to ask for too much up-front. The vacation time was more important to us.

Through the years, we've never, ever had problems with a company allowing unpaid vacation time for a planned vacation, soon after employment. (Does that make sense? When you're starting in April but have a June vacation all set up, for example). Even companies that won't negotiate other terms have allowed this (I'm looking at you, GE!). In some cases, they'll pay you when you reach 6 months or a year, depending, and sometimes you just take it and don't get paid. Keep in mind, though, that I'm talking about white-collar jobs--I have no idea what might happen if you worked in a bank or machine shop or whatever.

 

[jhoannam]

I haven't but I know new hires coming in do. I work for local government so they can't negotiate extra on a yearly basis but they give them a bank of time from day one. I think some people have started out with 4 weeks of vacation time.

 

[winterwhite]

I have successfully negotiated it elsewhere, but my current company does not allow negotiations on vacation as a company wide policy.

We also have use it or lose it, but my boss and I go back to a previous employer in the same industry and I am allowed to carry over time informally and just let him know I'm not coming in.

I got 4 weeks when I returned here because that is what I had previously.

 

[NHdisneylover]

My husband did several times over the years. He always insisted on at least as much as he had the job he was leaving.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I definitely think it's worth negotiating! Quality of life comes in more categories than money.

I didn't technically negotiate it, as it was built in, but the unlimited (although unpaid) time off is one of the main reasons I chose my current career as a substitute teacher.

 

[Christine]

Yes, I negotiated an extra week. I was being sought after by a company when they won our current contract. They knew my current pay and I was basically taking a lateral to go over to them (and keep my job). Their vacation benefits were less for new employees than what I was already earning, so I asked them to add a week so I would come over with my current compensation package.

I don't think I've ever asked for more vacation in situations where *I* really wanted the job and there were many other qualified applicants--only when I was being pursued.

 

[sk!mom]

It really depends on the circumstances. Some companies/industries don't negotiate. Others will, but it really depends on the company and the person getting the job offer.

In my DH's case, he asked for and received 3 weeks of vacation from the start, at both of his last two jobs (current one, and the one he took in 2008). He's also north of 50, with 30 years experience in the nuclear field, so he brings a lot to the table. OTOH, he didn't ask for more money (he was already getting a nice bump), and he got a really good relocation package--better than some of his co-workers did. He even got a raise and large bonus this year, which we weren't expecting, since he hadn't been with the company for a year at the time. But, that speaks to his skills and work ethic--we knew once they got to know him, the money would come, so he didn't want to ask for too much up-front. The vacation time was more important to us.

Through the years, we've never, ever had problems with a company allowing unpaid vacation time for a planned vacation, soon after employment. (Does that make sense? When you're starting in April but have a June vacation all set up, for example). Even companies that won't negotiate other terms have allowed this (I'm looking at you, GE!). In some cases, they'll pay you when you reach 6 months or a year, depending, and sometimes you just take it and don't get paid. Keep in mind, though, that I'm talking about white-collar jobs--I have no idea what might happen if you worked in a bank or machine shop or whatever.

My DH's experience is similar. They sought him out for the job upon hearing that he might be available. His company had recently sold and while he hadn't started actively looking for a new job, he had already decided that he wouldn't be staying with the new company.

He started the job the first of March that year and we already had a 2 week vacation to Europe booked. He was at a career point where vacation time was more valued than more money. Therefore he accepted their salary offer but told them that he needed 4 weeks vacation with the first two weeks already scheduled. They accepted this with no question. He was highly qualified (maybe overqualified) though and they were thrilled to get him. He's still there years later so it was a good decision all the way around.

 

[dadtoagirl03]

I'm at the point and mgmt. level in my career where if the beginning offer isn't at least 3 weeks we don't go any further. I wasn't able to get the full salary I wanted at my current position, but did negotiate a 4th week vacation. The older I get the more valuable my time becomes vs. simply how much I make.

 

[ronandannette]

We've had applicants ask, but "official" PTO is dictated by corporate policy and not negotiable. That said, if a new hire comes in already having a vacation planned, we always agree to that (pretty much a "freebie") and the company is also extremely generous with being flexible on random days off for personal and family needs.