View Full Version : vacation days question(s)
This is a long one, and I hope I don't confuse the heck outta you guys. Please follow along if possible! ;)
I'm in a bit of a quandary regarding my vacation days. In the first year of my position, I earned just under 7.0 hours of vacation time per month. Once I am here a year (in August), the figure goes up to just a bit over 7.0. During my first year, I ended up taking a lot of my days because of the library schedule. For e.g., on days close to a break in the academic schedule, I would sometimes work my usual shift (till 9 p.m.) and then be asked to come in the next day at 9 a.m. So often I would take a half day or a whole day. Then there are weeks when I end up working six days in a row because I had a 3-day weekend the previous week (again, because of breaks in the academic schedule).
There are also some odd rules (during the academic year) about when I'm allowed to take off time. For e.g., I'm not allowed to ever have a Sunday off. So if I want a 3-day weekend, it must be Thurs.-Sun.
So...I get to June, and I have about 5 or 6 days I can take. Here's where it gets weird(er). I'm thinking of applying to a master's program here. It's low residency, but you must attend workshops in the winter and summer. Each workshop is 5 days long. I'm afraid to take my vacation time for a couple reasons: 1) what if I get into the master's program and I need that time? The next session will be January. Between now and January, I will certainly earn 5 days. However... 2) I don't have any plans for the summer. At all. I can't afford to go anywhere. I get anxious when I think about sitting around the house doing nothing because I fear heat waves like the plague, and I'd rather be at work where there is central air; 3) Once years ago, I took a week off from work for a "staycation." I hate that term, BTW. It was awful, mostly because my next-door neighbor's son shot himself to death and we spent a good deal of time hearing her sobbing out her window (and thin walls), blaming her ex-husband and swearing revenge, etc. I realize that was a one-time thing...but it has stayed with me over 20 years.
On the other hand, I'm looking for another job. No bites on the line yet, but suppose I got hired and then had to give two weeks' notice at my current job, and then had no time off before starting a new job?
In short (ha ha), I guess I don't know what to do with my time off. It seems pointless to use it if I don't have any plans. I'm also slightly annoyed because my boss and my coworker hogged the best days, the week of the 4th of July and the week after.
I am sorry to ramble on...this is really bugging me. Yep, I'm a real worrywart, as my mom would say.
:0!
When life seems in a puzzling state, stop and look for what you really want to happen over the next few days and you will get some idea of what to do.
At first I was going to suggest talking to HR if you were unsure of what hours of vacation you are eligible but I realized as I thought about it, it is more of should I vacation now or later when I need it for a Master's session?
BTW, let the others take the crazy busy vacation days so that you can enjoy your time off without the crowds.
It sounds like you will earn enough days in the future to cover your workshop time, so if you do decide you would like to use some vacation this summer, that shouldn't hold you back. The rest sounds like a purely personal decision.
Since a staycation doesn't sound plesant to you, any other low cost options available? Every once in a while I will take a Friday off and go to the state park that is about 20 miles away for a night to camp and do a little hiking either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. It is $20 for the camp site and I usually bring food from home (plus the obligatory marshmellows of course). Although, depending on your climate, you may want to wait for Fall for something like that...the heat is brutal here in the summer.
If deal hunting is up your alley might also want to check out the Hotel Deals board at Flyertalk. They post all kinds of deals and mistake rates. If you live near a fun city then maybe you could stumble upon a deal on a room for a night just to get out and do something different - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hotel-deals-607/ It is always completely random what people post, but once they posted the Intercontinental ($$$) in New Orleans for $10/night and I had a family member able book it and go on a last minute trip!
Yes, I may be getting too far ahead of myself on some of this stuff!
Thanks!
When life seems in a puzzling state, stop and look for what you really want to happen over the next few days and you will get some idea of what to do.
At first I was going to suggest talking to HR if you were unsure of what hours of vacation you are eligible but I realized as I thought about it, it is more of should I vacation now or later when I need it for a Master's session?
BTW, let the others take the crazy busy vacation days so that you can enjoy your time off without the crowds.
Thanks for the suggestions and the link. I have never actually been camping. It's kind of funny, but for 20+ years my husband has suggested we go. And I tell him to get the tent ready and get a list of whatever else we need. Hasn't happened yet! LOL
It sounds like you will earn enough days in the future to cover your workshop time, so if you do decide you would like to use some vacation this summer, that shouldn't hold you back. The rest sounds like a purely personal decision.
Since a staycation doesn't sound plesant to you, any other low cost options available? Every once in a while I will take a Friday off and go to the state park that is about 20 miles away for a night to camp and do a little hiking either Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. It is $20 for the camp site and I usually bring food from home (plus the obligatory marshmellows of course). Although, depending on your climate, you may want to wait for Fall for something like that...the heat is brutal here in the summer.
If deal hunting is up your alley might also want to check out the Hotel Deals board at Flyertalk. They post all kinds of deals and mistake rates. If you live near a fun city then maybe you could stumble upon a deal on a room for a night just to get out and do something different - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hotel-deals-607/ It is always completely random what people post, but once they posted the Intercontinental ($$$) in New Orleans for $10/night and I had a family member able book it and go on a last minute trip!
Wouldn't you want to save a few days for possible interviews?
A few thoughts...
what if I get into the master's program and I need that time? The next session will be January. Between now and January, I will certainly earn 5 days.
This one sounds fairly low-risk. What is your level of confidence in getting into the master's program? If it's not high, then don't worry about the days. Oh, and if it looks like you'll be committed to the master's program when you start your new job, you can negotiate that time away (see my second-to-last comment).
I fear heat waves like the plague, and I'd rather be at work where there is central air
I would think there are lots of other places in your town that have central air, like the library, the shopping mall, the local college union, ... and, given this winter, there may not even be a heat wave this summer that coincides with your days off. :~)
Once years ago, I took a week off from work for a "staycation."
You know, of course, the odds of something like that happening again are astronomical, right? :) But, really, have you considered maybe a long weekend at some nice hotel in town that's looking to fill up non-business days? They can be quite inexpensive because they just don't want to have the rooms empty when the business travelers go home. Lock yourselves away for a few days with some snacks or meals in the mini-fridge, lots of good books or videos, enjoy the pool/spa/whirlpool/whatever they have. Nap when you want to. I've had some very relaxing vacations just hiding away from the world for a few days and living quite unlike I do the other days.
On the other hand, I'm looking for another job. No bites on the line yet, but suppose I got hired and then had to give two weeks' notice at my current job, and then had no time off before starting a new job?
When you are offered a job, you will have more leverage with your (new) employer than at any time after that. They want you. They've survived not having someone in the position you're filling, they've gone through the selection process and jumped through the necessary hoops to make you an offer. They don't want to start all over again, so they'll be somewhat accommodating. If they ask during the interview when you can start, you'll tell them your current job should get two weeks but that you then have a few things you have to take care of and, so, will need a week beyond that. Tell them that getting that extra week will let you start with them having your full attention (don't tell them it's because you're no longer pining for time off). The only fly in that ointment will be that, unless you're being paid for vacation days you didn't take, you're taking that week without pay. But ... what price sanity?
In short (ha ha), I guess I don't know what to do with my time off. It seems pointless to use it if I don't have any plans.
Maybe you have a better idea of plans now. Or maybe there is value to not having to wake up a few days and get ready to work at a job you don't like.
iris lilies
6-5-13, 8:45pm
Wouldn't you want to save a few days for possible interviews?
My thoughts exactly. 5 days of banked vacation is not very much. Why risk losing out on an interview? Any potential employer may not be able or willing to schedule an interview, or a series of interviews, on your regular days off.
The OP isn't much interested in taking a vacation away from home. Why squander this resource?
I agree with Iris. With the exception of when I started my most recent 2 jobs I've always carried a fair amount of vaca time. I'd much rather have time available when needed/desired then have something important come up and not be able to take time off. The only reason I'd burn time up would be if I was in a use it or lose it situation such as having so much built up that I was going to lose some at year's end. Thankfully in California the law is that employers have to pay out accrued vacation time if one leaves the company, whether fired or quit. Currently I carried over 12 PTO days from last year, and am in the middle of accruing 27 this year. I've taken 11 and hope to use another 15 or so this year which will still leave me with plenty to carry over for next year.
And I agree with Steve that if you are interviewing for a job tell them you'd need 3 weeks from the time they make the offer before you can start. If they want you enough to offer you a job they'll still want you a week later than 2 weeks from the time of the offer. And better that you show up rested and having taken care of whatever you may need to do between jobs.
ApatheticNoMore
6-5-13, 11:15pm
You'll never get back the time you didn't take as vacation. At best maybe when you leave you'll get money for the untaken vacation (and what a poor substitute and consolation prize that is!). I wouldn't, however, take vacation just to sit around the house when it's so hot I'm miserable. Maybe you would be happier saving your vacation for the winter holidays - go somewhere nice then, get out of town.
Of course when you earn 10-11 vacation days a year as I do, talk of banking vacation sounds kind of laughably absurd anyway - so I should never take a day off, ever?
It really depends a lot on what the policy is for rolling over vacation year to year.
In my DH's case, they have a "use it or lose it" policy -- any days not taken by Dec 31 are lost forever. He is a horrible planner, and typically loses PTO every year as a result. Oh, and when we DO go home for Christmas he spends most of it working (even though he is supposed to be on vacation) because he has financial and project reports due. DRIVES ME CRAZY!
In my case, I can keep a PTO reserve of up to 35 days worth of time. We would get paid up to 30 days of that on separation from service as long as we weren't terminated for cause (basically means breaking the law). Once I hit that limit, it stops accruing. I would LOVE to build up enough of a reserve so that I always have two or three weeks extra, but so far with our family visits I have ended up being able to keep at most a week or so after a long trip, sometimes less.
If it weren't for the fact that we need to visit family in the summer when all the kids are out of school, I actually would probably not take much time off in the summer. It is a slow time of year in our office once we get past June/early July, and I like the relatively quiet time to catch up with things, plan ahead, tweak models and materials, etc.
I agree with the suggestions above that you should keep some time in reserve for possible interviews. You might want to schedule some time for researching/applying for jobs as well. And maybe a mental health day every now and then. When I was in the last few months of my HSSJ, I deliberately threw in some days off every few weeks just as a carrot to keep myself going. It made it easier not to quit when I knew I had a "free money" day coming up.
Otherwise, if you can bank some time I would focus on doing that to the extent possible. Then if you need it for the grad course, you have it. And if you need it to pad the cushion while you transition to a new job, you have it then, too.
We do have a use-or-lose policy. I believe it is 70 hours, or 10 days. Because of my schedule, I of course never got near accumulating anything like 70 hours.
Just to complicate things (tee hee), if I got another job, I would not do the master's program (I get free tuition right now and the plan is to use it for the master's).
Good suggestion about interview scheduling. Right now I only have weekends off and I doubt anyone would want to schedule an interview then!
Wow, you get free tuition for your Masters, what a fortunate situation for you right now.
frugalone
6-11-13, 10:58am
It would be a master's in creative writing. Not exactly a big money-maker...but something I love to do.
Wow, you get free tuition for your Masters, what a fortunate situation for you right now.
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