Do you take leave?

[dwreath]

we get 10 hours per month for a total of 120 hours (15 days).  That is for vacation and sick time.  For holidays we get 6 paid holidays.

I work in an office where a few of the people just don't seem to have 'time' to take all their vacation days.  We are allowed to get up to 40 hours paid out so they (the employees) usually do that.

As for myself, I do think we fall slightly short on the days off.  15 vacation days?  Only 6 holidays?  So... I usually take all of mine... I think there was only one year I had a few hours to spare, so the boss let me use them in January.

D.

[supergirl]

I'm hourly--I can take all the vacation I want, but I don't get paid.  On the other hand, if there is a snow day or another emergency closing, I still get paid, even though I don't go in.  

Supergirl

[adassistant]

I have 25 PTO days, and I'm in the US. This is a lot of time where I live! I think 2 weeks is pretty standard. We also get the time off between xmas and new years, paid, 2 extra days off in the summer, paid and all holidays. This year we get the Friday and the Monday off surrounding the July 4th holiday.

[movinonup]

We get 10 vacation days a year, and all employees use them up, although the managers can carry them over.  It seems like everyone at this company knows how to balance their work lives with their personal lives, which seems to result in a low-stress environment.  Our receptionist only gets paid for 10 days vacation, but takes 15 each year--all in a row.  This plays havoc on the rest of us admins, and we don't care for it at all.  But she's great to work with otherwise, so we don't complain too much.  (One year the company splurged and got a temp to replace her!  Imagine that!)

I tend to split up my weeks, and they don't seem to mind...but I make sure to use it all up, or I lose it.

After 6 years' service, each employee gets 15 vacation days.  After 11--and we have a lot of long-term employees here--we get one for each year worked, up to a max of 160 hours.

Movinonup

[katrybarczyk]

We get 8 holidays and 12 days of PTO (Paid time off) that combines sick days and vacation days.  I plan on taking it all - being a working mom with kids and in school, I'm going to need it!

Plus, our hospital encourages taking it, and also encourages education, so we get to take time out for educational days without being penalized.  Continuing education is a BIG issue around here.

:O) Kat the Clerical

[jahdra]

We get 18 days PTO the first 5 years, 23 days after 10 years and 28 days after 15 years. We have a use it or lose it policy, but since I'm in California, that doesn't apply. For a long time, no one wanted to take the time, but lately, everyone seems to be burning out and taking as much time as they can. We can also "borrow" 40 hours, once we've used up all of our accrued time. Since we are paid in advance, not in arrears, this makes sense for the employee as well, just in case. Nothing like owing the firm money, instead of getting a final paycheck (that happened to someone who was laid off a couple of weeks ago. Talk about insult to injury!)

I take all of my leave, and have borrowed time from next year's accrual on some years. My 5 year anniversary is next February, so I will start accruing an extra 5 days PTO; I can't wait!

We have a generous short term disability program, and bereavement leave is decided on an individual basis, depending on the needs of the employee. We are also paid  for jury duty, no matter how long the trial.

[Katie G]

Movinonup's post made me wonder.....what happened to the good ol' days of a two week vacation???  My dad used to get four weeks and would take two of them in a row in the summer for our vacation.  We went down the shore for a week and he was home the second week and took care of things that needed attention around the house.  

Nowadays, even the top people only take one week off at a time.  Seems like nobody dares take two weeks together.  Are we all that indispensible?? It's a shame because, as my dad used to say, "It takes a week just to get rid of the headache!!"

[chris68]

Back in 2002 I took 3 weeks for a cross country road trip with my husband.  We were both able to take the time off and enjoy.  However, we did request the time far far in advance.  I don't know if I would want to do that again.  I may take 2 weeks in a row next time.  It's an expensive thing nowadays to take trips like that and it was just the two of us, add a couple of kids on the venture and its quite expensive.  We camped alot and hardly stayed in a hotel which cut our costs down to minimum of 15.00/night for self service campgrounds, gotta love those, or we would have been broke coming home if we stayed in a hotel.  

I remember the days of going on vacation too, we used to go at  Easter break and extend it a week and my dad would always take 2 weeks of from work.  Mom didn't work until we went to school and were old enough to stay home after school for a few hours a day without killing each other.  We used to fight like cats and dogs, however, nowadays we are closer than ever, for that I'm grateful we had the time to spend on those road trips together as a family.

My dad would also take a couple of weeks off at a time during the summer months to be home with us kids, I used to love that.  Dad and the two kids off for the day was the best.

As far as indispensible goes, if you plan well and have backup, you are indispensible for a short period of time.  There are enough Admin staff on board that can do bits and pieces of my job while I'm away for limited times.

Chris68
Peer Moderator

[chris68]

Back in 2002 I took 3 weeks for a cross country road trip with my husband.  We were both able to take the time off and enjoy.  However, we did request the time far far in advance.  I don't know if I would want to do that again.  I may take 2 weeks in a row next time.  It's an expensive thing nowadays to take trips like that and it was just the two of us, add a couple of kids on the venture and its quite expensive.  We camped alot and hardly stayed in a hotel which cut our costs down to minimum of 15.00/night for self service campgrounds, gotta love those, or we would have been broke coming home if we stayed in a hotel.  

I remember the days of going on vacation too, we used to go at  Easter break and extend it a week and my dad would always take 2 weeks of from work.  Mom didn't work until we went to school and were old enough to stay home after school for a few hours a day without killing each other.  We used to fight like cats and dogs, however, nowadays we are closer than ever, for that I'm grateful we had the time to spend on those road trips together as a family.

My dad would also take a couple of weeks off at a time during the summer months to be home with us kids, I used to love that.  Dad and the two kids off for the day was the best.

As far as indispensible goes, if you plan well and have backup, you are indispensible for a short period of time.  There are enough Admin staff on board that can do bits and pieces of my job while I'm away for limited times.

Chris68
Peer Moderator

[uberpa]

Well I am an American though I am permanently settled in Britain now.  I only ever got two weeks a year and no paid sick leave.  In a year I had to take many sick days just from being worn out from so little holiday time and so few "bank holidays".  Many holidays in america are optional and it depends on the company you work for or the sector you work in.  Your more likely to get holidays in the public sector because Government employees usually get the Federal Holidays as their offices will be closed.  However, I never worked in the Public Sector.  

I used to take my holiday one week at a time so twice a year, not very much when you're trying to maintain a relationship long distance.  My husband who was then my boyfriend/fiance would come to America to visit quite often but I would always have to work when he was there.

Now that I live and work in Britain I get 25 Annual Leave days plus the 8 bank holidays.  So far I've taken 11 days 2 seperate weeks of holiday and 2 half days.  I have 14 days left and am still unsure what to do with it all but I plan to take every minute of it because I can.  It's more then a blessing.

I already feel less stressed in general because I know if I need to I can book off a day without having to make up some elaborate story about plumbing and runaway pet snakes just so I can have a lie in and relax if the pressure gets too much.