Holidays (aka vacations) in the UK

[wishspirit]

We have 4 weeks of annual leave each year as set out in EU regulations.

I laughed when you said we 'black out all of August' as all the schools in the UK are on holiday from late July to early September, so yes most UK visitors come during August!

Also i have never before (up till this holiday in September) been to America for less than 2 weeks. With the time change and amount of time it takes to get there and back, it hardly seems worth it!

If you want to find out anymore about UK working law: http://www.thompsons.law.co.uk/ltext/l0990001.htm

 

[BRobson]

Wow - I cant believe that you only get 2 weeks holiday in the USA.

My DH gets 6 weeks holiday a year as well as public holidays like Christmas/New Year/Easter etc

I work in a school so get 12 weeks holidays a year

I would come to Orlando for 6 months a year if I could but although we love to visit for 3 weeks at a time we are only doing 2 weeks next year so we can come in October ( the kids get 2 weeks holiday then) rather than the hot summer

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I am happy to say that I have more than 2 weeks of vacation/holiday time (5 weeks annually) but it took about 11 years to earn that much. I never use it all - I usually sell it back... defeats the purpose, but how can a person be out of work for 5 weeks a year?!

 

[BRobson]

I am happy to say that I have more than 2 weeks of vacation/holiday time (5 weeks annually) but it took about 11 years to earn that much. I never use it all - I usually sell it back... defeats the purpose, but how can a person be out of work for 5 weeks a year?!

Do you get paid for your vacation time in the US ?

 

[NWOhioAngela]

2 weeks isn't the law, its more like the norm. I only got one week after 1 full year of service. After 2 years it goes to 2 weeks, after 5 you get 3, and after 12 years of service you get 4 weeks. This is paid vacation time. My company doesn't give sick time or personal days, but I'm salaried and give them about 50 hours a week, so they look the other way on those days.

Of course this year after 3 years of service I will be getting a pink slip but thats another thread!

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Do you get paid for your vacation time in the US ?

Yes, this is paid time. Like the PP, my time is a pool of time that can be personal/sick/vacation, etc.

 

[BRobson]

Yes, this is paid time. Like the PP, my time is a pool of time that can be personal/sick/vacation, etc.

So if you were off sick that would eat into your time off ?

I am nosey - I know

 

[kimisabella]

The only good things about my dh working for the NYPD is the
time off and benefits.

He gets 5 weeks vacation every year, then gets 2 individual "pick" days, I forget how many "chart" days, and unlimited sick days.

The thing that stinks is that he had to choose all of his vacation weeks a couple of weeks ago - it's difficult trying to plan a whole year's worth of activities so far ahead.

But - he did make sure that he took off for the podcast cruise!!!

 

[safetymom]

Thanks for the information!!!

 

[BRobson]

The only good things about my dh working for the NYPD is the
time off and benefits.

He gets 5 weeks vacation every year, then gets 2 individual "pick" days, I forget how many "chart" days, and unlimited sick days.

The thing that stinks is that he had to choose all of his vacation weeks a couple of weeks ago - it's difficult trying to plan a whole year's worth of activities so far ahead.

But - he did make sure that he took off for the podcast cruise!!!

My DH had to choose his 6 weeks holidays for 2009 last month - it is hard to think so far ahead

 

[NWOhioAngela]

So if you were off sick that would eat into your time off ?

I am nosey - I know

For many people, yes.

 

[BRobson]

For many people, yes.

Wow - that sucks. It is funny what you take for granted

 

[Stacy's a freak]

So if you were off sick that would eat into your time off ?

I am nosey - I know

Yes, if I take a sick day, I have one less paid day off. It definitely makes me think twice about taking days off - if I take 2 sick days a year, that's a lot for me.

 

[BRobson]

Yes, if I take a sick day, I have one less paid day off. It definitely makes me think twice about taking days off - if I take 2 sick days a year, that's a lot for me.

It would make you think twice - I know companies in this country loose a lot of £££ due to sickness in the workplace. It is too easy to take a day off if you are that way inclined

It is a shame you loose vacation time if you are really ill

 

[Cyrano]

Not everyone here gets paid sick leave. BIL looses pay and also overtime if he is off sick from his welding job.

Most office jobs get paid sick leave, but then no matter whether I work 40 hours or 70 hours in a week I still get the same monthly pay

 

[exwdwcm]

My past few jobs were in defense, and we usually shut down the week of Christmas- paid. That wasn't part of our usual vacation- i got 2 weeks vacation, plus a week of sick time and all standard holidays, then the week at Christmas- all that probably amounted to about 5 weeks when said and done.

Then we started the 9/20 where we got every other Friday off- that was nice too. But, I changed jobs and lost those benefits (but made up with others). I probably get about a month's worth of time off here and can work from home and pretty much take what I need. My DH's work is the same way- they are small and so he takes when he needs to- paid. No one takes advantage of it, so it isn't a big deal. I bet he barely took 2 weeks last year, but he could have taken more.