OT for Working Moms - How many weeks of vacation do you get?

[LSUmom4kids]

OT for Working Moms: How many weeks of vacation do you get?

I'm just curious how many weeks of vacation other working moms get? I've been at the same job for 19 years and receive 3 weeks of vacation.

I'm a legal secretary and have learned to do paralegal duties too over the years. I'm also a notary public, which in Louisiana, Notaries are commissioned for Life and is a little more prestigous than in other states. I work for a small law firm and wear numerous "hats". My long-time co-worker just left to work for a larger law firm and it has lead me to wonder if I'm not getting adequate compensation.

After 1 year of employment I received 2 weeks of vacation. After 9 years, I received an additional week of vacation - total 3 weeks and it has remained 3 weeks for the past 10 years! I have NO health insurance benefits (thank goodness DH has coverage with his State job!), but do have profit sharing benefits and an annual bonus. I love my boss and doing her non-litigation work, but now I'm being asked to help the other attorneys with their litigation work "until they find someone to replace my co-worker" - they may not start looking until August!

Post-Katrina, it is very hard to find good workers and I would like to present a proposal to the attorneys so I feel appreciated and actually feel like I'm being fairly compensated.

I guess I could actually go on another job interview to find out what I'm worth, but I guess I'm too scared....

 

[ForeverDance]

Our first year (read part year) is prorated with 1 day vacation per month up to 10 (our years of service start counting from the 1st of January of the first full year that we are there). We get 2 weeks starting our first full year. 3 weeks after 3 years and 4 weeks after 10 years and 5 weeks after 20 years.

I'm in Canada so maybe things are different in the states.

 

[pixiewings71]

I get 2 weeks of vacation. I've worked for my company for 5 years, after 10 I will get 3 weeks and that's it. My last job was retail, I was able to earn vacation hours based on how many hours I worked, I didn't get more than 1 week a year working there. I much prefer knowing I get 2 weeks but with 2 kids it goes way too fast.

 

[csss31399]

I work for a Fortune 500 company and I get 26 paid days off per year. This includes sick, vacation, personal, etc. This is standard after five years. I think 19 years would give more than three weeks. How about asking? Ultimately, it doesn't cost them more since they are already paying you for that week. I think if you present it the right way, you could definitely get another week. It can't hurt to ask nicely.

 

[eliza61]

Nothing beats a failure but a try. After 10 years, my company gives me 20 days vacation. We do have a really good sick policy (unlimited sick days)

 

[skw444]

I've been with my company for 7 years and I get 28 Paid time off (PTO) days which includes vacation and sick time and an additional 1 or 2 floating holidays.

 

[ldo]

You have to look at the whole package--you get no health ins, is this b/c you choose not to have any? I assume you are a full-time employee. Do they offer health ins. to others?
Next, 3 weeks vacation is pretty decent--some may offer more, but most places, esp. small places don't offer more than 4 weeks, tops.
But, the bottom line in the pay--does the pay make up for these things--ex. if someone else makes $30K and gets health ins (but they would still pay a large % of the premium, I bet) and 4 weeks off, but you get $35K--you are still better off.
Re. asking you to do different things--that's just the way lawyers view it--they are not thinking about it one bit that they are asking for extra work--their view is that you are there during those hours---so they can ask you--and if you say anything about extra work, you are viewed as a complainer.

Bottom line, if you like your job, maybe ask for a few extra personal days off for picking up the slack for the absent position--but realize that the above is their mind set. And don't assume the grass is greener somewhere else--I have tons of friends who are legal sec and paras (in the DC area) and many go from firm to firm and, in the end, it all seems about the same. THose who are happiest have found a group that they like working for and feel respected, regardless of the $ and benefits that they are getting. good luck.

 

[jessica52877]

Wow! DH got 1 week when he started, only because he negotiated and was a manager, 2 weeks after 2 years and then not 3 weeks until after 7 years. That is all he'll ever get. Because he works retail and is salary there are no other days and if we do go on vacation we do not have the usual 9 days, two weekends with the 5 day week in the middle but only 7 days. He also is not allowed to take a vacation in Oct, Nov or December and the 3 months prior to inventory, usually Jan, Feb and March. Makes for stinky vacation options. We usually go May, July and September.

It has been so long since I worked that I have no idea anymore what I got. I know it was 2 weeks after 2 years, 1 after 1, but then you got holiday pay and 2 personal days I think that you could take whenever you wanted, which came out to about another week.

 

[all4fun]

We also get "PTO" = paid time off, which includes holidays and sick time. It is prorated per year of service. Currently I get 25 days at 8-9yrs of service. At 10-11 yrs I will be able to "earn" 26 days per year (it accrues on a monthly basis). We also get a couple of "floating holidays". We have full health care coverage: medical and dental for just myself is paid 100% by the company but if I want to add my family on, I have to pay extra.

 

[cccm]

For first two years was 2 weeks per year. It is calculated at 6.67 hours per month. After that it is 3 weeks per year and is calcualted at 10 hours per month. You cannot go over 160 hours in accumulation or you lose it.

I am currently at 3 weeks.

Specific positions and over 15 years, they do not track, but that does not mean that it is unlimited.

Edited to add: 2 weeks sick per year also.

 

[DawnM]

Well, I am a teacher, so when the kids are off, I am off.

Dawn

 

[mrsltg]

I work for a very large bank and after five years I get 30 paid days off per year - this includes any reason for taking off, though.

 

[cl1067]

I work for a bank, just started in March and I get 28 days of PTO per year....all holdiays, sick and vaca time comes out of this bank...it kind of stinks that HOliday comes out, but that does allow some flexibility. Such as, I'm working on the 4th and then taking Friday off instead.

 

[CharmedLife]

I've been at the same company for 12 years. I currently get 3 weeks, plus 2 extra days for our service anniversary and birthday (although you don't have to take them on those days). Then if any company holidays fall on weekends, it gets added to our vacation time. No limit on sick days, although unofficially they want you to keep it to 5 days per year. When I was pregnant with DD 7 years ago, I was really sick and had 9 days that year - nobody ever asked for any doctor's notes or anything.

At my company you start with 2 weeks (prorated the 1st year), then get your 3rd week at 5 years. I'm looking forward to 14 years when I'll get my 4th week, then you get your 5th week at 25 years. That's the end of the road...

I could never go back to 2 weeks...

 

[dameodie]

Well, I'm not a mom (in the technical sense) but I do know that I'm very, very, very, VERY fortunate in the time off department.

I get three weeks vacation time starting the first year!! I know, I'm still shocked by it too. You have to earn it over the course of the year, but so long as management approves your vacation, you can borrow time you haven't earned yet. Your 6th year you get four weeks, and after 15 you get five. CRAZY, ain't it?

In addition, we get 10 sick days. In the words of Dave Barry, I swear I am not making this up. Their theory is that if you have to go on short term disablilty, the policy doesn't kick in for two weeks. I do work for a company in the medical industry, so it's possible that affects how they handle sick time.

My fiancee just started earning his vacation at a higher rate, and he's been at his job five years. He now gets three weeks.

 

[hollieplus2]

I work for the Govt. so we get all federal holidays off. I earn 6 hours of annual leave every two weeks and 4 hours of sick leave every two weeks. After 10 years we get 8 hours of annual every two weeks and 4 hours of sick leave. They really don't care what type of leave you use as long as you have leave. I can take annual for a dr. appt and I can use sick if I just need to run errands. They really don't care here. So I get 19.5 annual days and 13 sick days plus federal holidays. That seems like a lot of days but they don't offer anything for having a baby or anything. If you have a baby then you have to use your own leave. They don't give you anything. If you don't have leave then you go leave without pay.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

You have to look at the whole package--you get no health ins, is this b/c you choose not to have any? I assume you are a full-time employee. Do they offer health ins. to others?
Next, 3 weeks vacation is pretty decent--some may offer more, but most places, esp. small places don't offer more than 4 weeks, tops.
But, the bottom line in the pay--does the pay make up for these things--ex. if someone else makes $30K and gets health ins (but they would still pay a large % of the premium, I bet) and 4 weeks off, but you get $35K--you are still better off.
Re. asking you to do different things--that's just the way lawyers view it--they are not thinking about it one bit that they are asking for extra work--their view is that you are there during those hours---so they can ask you--and if you say anything about extra work, you are viewed as a complainer.

Bottom line, if you like your job, maybe ask for a few extra personal days off for picking up the slack for the absent position--but realize that the above is their mind set. And don't assume the grass is greener somewhere else--I have tons of friends who are legal sec and paras (in the DC area) and many go from firm to firm and, in the end, it all seems about the same. THose who are happiest have found a group that they like working for and feel respected, regardless of the $ and benefits that they are getting. good luck.

There are only 3 attorneys - all partners - the newer employees (a receptionist, a secretary/paralegal they hired in Jan. a part-time bookkeeper, and a contract paralegal) don't get the profit sharing. It was just me and the co-worker who just left - now its just me. We were the only employees who were on the health insurance, besides the partners, so when the rates went up and they found out that the health insurance they were paying for us was really backup coverage - both our husbands had coverage with large firms - they decided to change the partners coverage to some high deductible and not to offer health insurance to employees anymore. My co-worker and I had to write a letter saying that we already had coverage with our husband's employer for our file. (It was nice to have that backup insurance - I used it when I had my last child and my tubes tied. I didn't have to come out of pocket for anything.)

We have no dental or vision insurance. I get 10 days of sick leave. I work on salary; no overtime benefits (I try not to be available anyway). I do get paid parking (which is nice) and I can bring my kids to work when I can't find anyone to watch them or if they have a dr. appt. (we have an empty office with a tv/vcr). My boss is very nice; she always gives me a little $$ cash for my vacations with notes "to spend it on myself" - she knows that my kids always come before me.

I would like to negotiate some things about my job - I am a very loyal employee and have been here through thick and thin. I am seeing a counselor to help me deal with some things and I think I need to stand up for myself and now seems like a good time.

They did give me a 10% raise last week and told me about the need for me to "help out" with the additional workload, but I hadn't received a raise in about 3 years. So I don't know if it's overdue pay or an incentive for the additional workload that's coming up.

thanks for all the advice - I appreciate seeing all the support and ideas! I know that negotiations are always a 2-way street and I'll never know until I ask, right???

 

[pixiedust247]

I work for a state university and I accrue 2 days of annual leave and 1 day of sick leave per month (24 days Al and 12 days sl). It equals out to 3.2 week of leave. I have been in this position (trainer for child care providers) for 1 year and I believe the numbers go up at certain year marks.
If only we could spend all of time off at Disney World

 

[mickeylove2]

I work for the Federal Government and when you start out you get 4 hours of sick and 4 hours of annual leave each pay period (26 in a year) after 3 years your sick stays the same but you get 6 hours annual, and after 15 years your sick stays the same and you get 8 hours a pay period. You can only carry 250hours of annual over into the new year but you can carry as much sick leave as you have. Unlike another poster said, where I work if you run out of leave, such as for a baby, or surgery, whatever, if you will be out of work for a while you can sign up to have leave donated to you and people who have "use or lose" (more than 250 hours) can donate some of their time to you.

 

[Darcy03231]

I work as a paralegal for a small law firm in NH. I've been here 11 years and get 4 weeks paid vacation (2 weeks after a year, 3 weeks after 5 years, 4 weeks after 10, 5 weeks after 15, etc). I don't have health insurance through the firm because I'm insured under my husband's policy and quite honestly the insurance here isn't great and its expensive. I have unlimited sick time as long its not abused. My boss' theory is that if you're sick, you're sick. I was hospitalized for an illness once about 5 years ago and was out of work for three weeks. I was paid for the three weeks and didn't have to take vacation time for it. We also have profit sharing and a yearly bonus. Since I maxed out my salary years ago I don't get raises any more, but my yearly bonus is substantial. There's no way I could go to work anywhere else in the area and make more than what I make now. I also have the advantage of only working a mile from home, which, in my opinion, is priceless.