Negotiating vacation time?

[Clumsy]

Just curious has anyone ever negotiated there vacation time when starting a new job? I started a new job the end of last year and didn't think about negotiating my vacation time. I'm going to be looking again for another job and wanted to know if this is something normal or expected from employers when hiring someone? Just wanted some advice?? The job I was previously at before this new one, I had 20 days a year. Unfortunately they closed our operation and I was layed off.

 

[Pop Daddy]

if I tired that they would say "forget it, your fired"

 

[java]

Just curious has anyone ever negotiated there vacation time when starting a new job? I started a new job the end of last year and didn't think about negotiating my vacation time. I'm going to be looking again for another job and wanted to know if this is something normal or expected from employers when hiring someone? Just wanted some advice?? The job I was previously at before this new one, I had 20 days a year. Unfortunately they closed our operation and I was layed off.

I wouldn't hope for 20 days! Usually it is 2 weeks. That is standard anything above would have to be negotiated.. But I would wait until I was made an offer- then if it was lower than I hoped I would start vying for some extra vacation time. Generally not a good idea to be asking about when you can get time off during the interview. You can bring up benefits and usually they will mention this..

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I am starting a new job in a few weeks, and for the first time ever I feel like I did a good job on the negotiating part.

Basically, I waited until I had a written offer from them (via email). The offer was at a higher salary but with worse benefits (time off, % of health insurance, % of money to retirement, and free child care -- I work at a school that has a summer camp which my son attends for free). I called back and said that while I really appreciated the offer I didn't feel like I could move unless the new "package" was significantly better than my current one. I followed that up with an email that detailed what I have now. They made me a 2nd offer with more salary, more leave (same as I have now), and free before and after care. They also offered me a signing bonus. I'll still have to pay more my insurance and retirement than I do now -- but the difference in salary covers that and still adds about 10%.

I do think it's possible to negotiate these things, but that the point at which it makes sense if after you get an initial offer.

Good luck!

 

[malibuconlee]

DH did. He was recruited to interview with a company closer to home. They made him an offer and he negotiated several aspects. Because he wasn't out looking for a job he felt he needed to be sure he wasn't giving up things like vacation time. He didn't want to have to start over when he had three weeks vacation, 6 days of sick time, and two floating holidays all rolled into a PTO account. They started him with an accrual rate of 3 weeks per year.

He also negotiated a one-time bonus after a year of service to make up for the fact that he wouldn't be eligible for the company's 401K for the first year of employment (not sure why they couldn't change that, but they couldn't). So they gave him a bonus to try and make up what the company contribution might have been.

He spent just over a year with that company before the old company called and asked him to come back. The negotiations started again and he's been back for about 14 months.

He's happier at this company and I think he'll stick with them for a long time.

 

[mrsstats]

I did and got 4 weeks vacation after 2 years.

 

[EthansMom]

At DH's present company, they didn't feel that they could offer him quite as much as he wanted dollar-wise. So, he negotiated, and got three weeks of vacation per year, instead of the company-published two years. He also got a signing bonus, promise of a raise after 1 year based upon performance, and an executive package to pay for our moving expenses.