Do you take your vacation days from work?

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Many opinions on this subject....

by Mac McMullen Jun 12, 2007 8:02AM PDT

"Back in the day"...I insisted supervisors, and their charge, use their vacation time as intended. "Breaks" from work improve attitudes and production.

In security planning, enforcing the absence from the desk for 10 days or 2 weeks for sensitive positions, ie, bank officers, is good management. Shortcomings are identified.

In todays world, with 2 wage earners in the household, coordination of scheduling vacation time is a problem.

In todays world, many feel they simply cannot afford a vacation.

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I never take more than a week

by Dragon Jun 12, 2007 8:50AM PDT

It's really a good idea, I think, to 'depressurize' now and then. My wife and I don't try to coordinate any of our time off, unless its a special event like Christmas or New Years.

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I usually take every bit of it ...

by Bill Osler Jun 12, 2007 9:31AM PDT

I'm not sure I don't go over my quota some years. Sometimes rank does have privileges. My employer allows a good bit of vacation time for physicians but it's not exactly paid vacation. Salary is determined by productivity so vacation decreases salary. Still, I think that vacation is extremely important.

Some of mine gets used for mission trips, some of it for the occasional long weekend, and some of it for a week or two off at one time. Tomorrow I'll leave work early and I won't go back until 6/25.

There is some evidence that relaxing activities are important in controlling levels of stress hormones and that chronic high levels of stress hormones contribute to disease. If so, relaxing on vacation will improve health.

Of course relaxation is a matter of personal taste. The first 4 days of my vacation will be spent mountain biking in the Pisgah National Forest. That will be hard physical work ... but very different from my 'day job' and rather relaxing in other ways.

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I take most, and bank the rest

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 12, 2007 9:50AM PDT

I get a bit over four weeks a year (we get extra for "minor holidays" when they don't want the clinics to close -- notably President's Day, Columbus Day, Texas Independence Day, and San Jacinto Day) while K gets only 3. I thus "bank" 3-4 days/year (it'll be paid when I leave UTMB, probably by retirement) I started because State law forbids any sort of severance package in case of layoff (or not making tenure, in my case) and I wanted a cushion. Now it's an extra six weeks' salary (plus, as time goes on) when I retire.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
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The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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(NT) Well,you've got it made in the shade! :)

by Dragon Jun 12, 2007 10:07AM PDT

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Yeah, ain't it great to be able to work for a

by duckman Jun 12, 2007 11:07AM PDT

not for profit

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Duckman, at my level,

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 13, 2007 1:50AM PDT

a for-profit would be giving me performance bonuses, stock options, and a golden parachute performance bonus. When we both started (I as an Assistant Professor in my first position, my wife as an accounting clerk at a bank). Now my wife is a Senior Vice President, and makes more than I do before you even consider the add-ins. Yeah, I'm sure eating high on the hog at the public trough -- NOT!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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At your level? what does that mean?

by duckman Jun 13, 2007 3:46AM PDT

Bottom line is that the company your wife works for produces a profit for its investors (who put their money at risk) and are good enough to share with the employees that contribute to financial success and offer incentives to attract and retain valued workers. Not saying that that isn't done at you school, but if the bank were to "give" away time like you have, they'd be out of business. My FIL retired after 40 years in the public school system with over 3 years of accumulated sick time which they paid him for. I still think that is BS. That's not what sick days are for and then the already cash strapped school system had to pay twice for the same service the next 3 years. That doesn?t happen in the private sector.

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A company I used to work for

by Dragon Jun 14, 2007 12:32PM PDT

Gave us 10 days of sick leave per year. It's been a long time since I worked there, but I do remember that once you exceeded a certain amount of sick leave, they would take it from you, but pay you for it. When I found that out, I resolved not to get sick, and didn't for a long time. I was happy to be paid a couple of extra weeks, per year.

I can't imagine any company ever allowing a person to accumulate three years of sick leave! Heck, I have a hard time imagining a school doing it.

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Three YEARS?

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 14, 2007 2:17PM PDT

I don't think you could work that long even if you used none, Dragon. We don't get paid for sick leave, but can accumulate an unlimited amount, and donate it to a sick leave pool for those who have used theirs up (due to severe illness, not too many "mental health days"). When I had to take a leave of absence earlier this year, the benefits person who helped me couldn't believe I had over 1400 hours of sick leave accumulated (we get one day per month, regardless of seniority), but it sure came in handy!

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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We had a generous sick leave policy too

by Steven Haninger Jun 14, 2007 7:27PM PDT

We'd get 6 days plus 2 personal days and could accumulate up to 110 days of sick time which would about cover the need for short term disability coverage. I had 90+ days but a company merger wiped that out. It was determined that my position was partially "exempt" in certain benefits cases and we went to unlimited sick time with management approval but after 5 consecutive days we needed to go on disability. I lost all I had accumulated and was miffed for a time.

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I'd be miffed, too!

by Dragon Jun 15, 2007 11:31AM PDT

I think a company should grandfather things like that, or at least "suggest" that a guy actually start using it up. Or at least find some middle ground, like converting some to vacation days.

I used to get personal days, too. That company I worked for was the most stressful, mentally (especially the mental part) and physically, that I've ever worked for. I'd go to bed and be out like a light, and then have to drag myself out of bed in the morning. The occasional personal day sure helped, even though they were kind of rare.

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I used to bank some of my time ...

by Bill Osler Jun 12, 2007 10:25AM PDT

I kept about 240 hours of vacation time banked as a sort of short term disability plan. I thought it made sense at the time, but the way I got there was by not taking much vacation. In retrospect I took too little vacation and banked too much.

My employer fixed that situation a few years back. The hospital got tired of carrying accumulated vacation on the balance sheet so they bought out all the vacation time that physicians had accrued. Now the vacation is allowed on an annual basis with no carry-over. That took away most of the incentive to leave vacation time on the table.

I didn't like the change at the time, but in retrospect it was a good thing. Now I'm actually taking the vacation.

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I take mine a little at a time

by Steven Haninger Jun 12, 2007 11:07AM PDT

We have a "use it or lose it" type plan and can only accumulate a fixed number of hours. That number depends how much we can accrue due to longevity. I top out at 200 hours but try to burn it off when it approaches that number. I've never taken a full two weeks off but plan to do so eventually. Most of my vacation is devoted to home repair chores but we take a couple short trips a year to do some visiting. I work for a large company which continuously monkeys around with the paid time off policy and we were informed that change is coming again. Who knows what my options will be next week. No complaints though. Having a paycheck at all is a good thing.

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We have a maximum accumulation too, Steve & Bill,

by Dave Konkel [Moderator] Jun 13, 2007 11:13AM PDT

but it goes up with seniority (I've now been at the same insitution for 27 years, and my wife at her bank for 26?, surviving three takeovers/mergers so far). I'm close to, but a worrk week or so shy of, the maximum number of banked hours for my years in service. And as I indicated, the main reason it happened was the disparity in total number of vacation hours between myself and my wife; they're actually about the same, except for that conversion of minor holidays into personal vacation time.

-- Dave K, Speakeasy Moderator
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com

The opinions expressed above are my own,
and do not necessarily reflect those of CNET!

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With only 3 weeks a year vacation

by Roger NC Jun 12, 2007 11:41AM PDT

I'm not likely to take two of it at one time.

I might for something really special, but not planning it anytime soon.

Besides, about a week on the road (literally or figuratively) is about all I can afford at one time. I guess I could throw everything into one huge vacation, but I honestly rather have 3 separate weeks off than one huge one.

In fact, I'm considering using my third week as "day at a time" vacation and just take those long weekends scattered here and there for the rest of the year.

I've never take a two week trip in my life as matter of fact. I probably will someday, but when you only have 2 or 3 weeks, I rather space them out. This is the third job I've had where I got up to three weeks, with a bit of luck I'll make it to four weeks at this job before I have to move on.

Roger

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I once had a job where I had 6 weeks of vacation per year...

by grimgraphix Jun 12, 2007 2:36PM PDT

... due to accrued seniority. Unfortunately I was the guy that could do everyone else's job and was always on call (I got an average of 10 to 15 hours overtime a week).

Never got to take my vacation but I had a pretty hefty last paycheck when I left that job.

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Crikey !! Six weeks?

by duckman Jun 13, 2007 4:12AM PDT

How long did you work there?

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4 1/2 years the first time around.

by grimgraphix Jun 13, 2007 2:56PM PDT

It was a combination of vacation and sick days (one and the same as the days were available for both purposes).

It was a high stress job running ICF/MRDD homes for disabled patients who were transitioning from long term hospitalization to their own apartments. They offered a lot of benefits like vacation/sick days up front and you could accrue more fairly quickly... all in an effort to keep employees. By the time I left I was in charge of staff training and behavioral treatment planning for 2 group homes. I was burnt out and frustrated by the time I left from all the long hours and fast staff turn over. What good was all that vacation if I never got a chance to take any of it? No good at all.

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Vacation YES

by dianne--2008 Jun 23, 2007 2:21AM PDT

I have 3 weeks and 5 personal days and I take all of it. My anniversary date is July7th and I am off for a week the next day. Speaking of that it is just around the corner and my husband and I are off to spend the week with my parents. So Dad get your list ready because your handy man will be there soon.Yes Dad I have gotten this computer up and running.FYI I bought a new computer Windows Vista and the second day I was on the phone with technical support..... See you soon DAD Dianne

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Pass on my good wishes in person!!!!

by Angeline Booher Jun 24, 2007 1:09AM PDT

I know how you must be looking forward to be spending time with Mom and Dad!

Congrats on the computer being up and running. You'll be comfortable with Vista in no time from reports I have heard from others who dove in and won!

I've been learning a new OS for a little more than a month with 2 support calls, and a few visits to the CNet help forum. I've learned how to get to the Forums, do email, and write a letter. Now for the other stuff.

Have a great visit!

Angeline
Speakeasy Moderator

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