Spin-Off from Work Hours: Do You Take Your Vacation Time?

[bigbabyblues]

I don't get paid time off, but I do still take time off for vacations and things. My husband takes most of his but we do have him get paid out for some of it once a year--he only works 2 days a week, and they have a 5-day off stretch every fourth week on the normal schedule.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I said yes - but my company's policy is unlimited vacation time. It is the best!

May I ask what your profession is? And is that for all levels of employees?

 

[Liberty Belle]

I've never taken all my vacation time.
And now we get unlimited vacation days off with approval.
I am intending to do a 4 week vacation next year for my 50th - and my boss is giving my $10,000 towards it - so next year I am taking a LOT of time off!

I'll ask you, too. Is this for all levels of employees and what field are you in?

 

[mrodgers]

I assume by "bank" you guys mean roll over to the next year.

We can't roll our vacation time over. Throughout the year we are allowed to sell out up to 2 weeks any time we want. Any other left over is paid out first pay in January.

We have to hold a few vacation hours for scheduled shutdowns. How many is determined by your department/schedule. The 12 hour production folk need to hold onto more vacation hours for Christmas shutdown than I do on an 8 hour schedule.

That all said, I use to use them all up. Last year for 20 years I gained my 5th week. I also got a divorce, I'm basically homeless for the past year and a half and my living situation is far from ideal.

I sold 1 week back to finish paying the lawyer. 2nd week paid back to finish paying off a credit card. I had 2 weeks paid out at the beginning of this year to put in the bank to start the savings for a place to live. All I'll be able to afford is a falling apart $10,000 trailer, but at least I'll have a place to cook, fridge and freezer to hold food, and I won't be criticized daily about how hot of a shower I take or how I brush my teeth or blamed for every crumb that is found in the kitchen (I don't even use the kitchen because of the criticism.) About to squeeze my head in a vice about right now as it would be more comfortable than living where I am (mother's house.)

So I took a sprinkling of vacation days here and there throughout the year to cover the kids' school programs but that's it. I'm broke, can't provide a home for my children, and can't do anything but sit and stare at the walls on days off. I can't stand right now not being at work on the weekends let alone to take extra time off.

 

[morgan98]

May I ask what your profession is? And is that for all levels of employees?

I am not the OP, but there are public accounting and consulting firms who have moved to this unlimited vacation policy. These are highly demanding environments where people rarely work as little as a 40 hour week. So although vacation time is unlimited, it is not like people are taking 10 weeks off. This is all part of the employer selling work/life balance and the ability to pursue your own interests outside of work. It generally replaced generous PTO policies anyway, where people rarely took all of their vacation in any given year.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

After 19+ years here, I have about 5 weeks of paid time off that I get in a lump sum at the beginning of each calendar year. This time can be used for vacation, sick, personal days - it's all one pot of time. I typically use about 3 weeks a year and can roll over the rest OR I can sell back my time as long as that time doesn't exceed half of my annual lump sum. We are in a small office and taking time off puts added burden on the other employees in the office. So I try not to overdo it and I like to get that vacation payout around Christmas each year.

 

[Vicki926]

I work in a school, so I only get 3 personal days. Not that I need more with all the days off during the year, plus summer break. I generally do take all 3 days, though a couple of years ago I didn't, and they converted to sick days.
Usually I take 1 in December. One at the end of the year. And another one whenever I'm feeling like I could use a day off.