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Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

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Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#51

Post by ap22213 »

Being an old dude, I'm probably not the target demographic, but this policy would not be attractive to me.

For one thing, when comparing positions, I like to have quantitative data. Ok: Position A gives me $150,000, expects me to work 45 hours a week, provides me 25,000 in benefits, and gives me 4 weeks of vacation per year and it requires 10 hours per month of commute / preparation time.

Then I can make a rough estimate of pay per hour, consider the qualitative aspects, and compare positions apples to apples. When things are vague, it makes comparisons more difficult.

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#52

Post by funkah »

nhashem wrote: post #23

For policies like this, your company culture and the examples leadership sets are going to dictate exactly how something like this, or anything else not explicit, is followed. If leadership often takes vacation and doesn't do more than basic email checking, if that, then employees will feel comfortable doing the same and enjoy this policy over your standard "you accumulate 5 hours of PTO per pay period." If leadershi…

I think that kind of culture is going to be a problem for any employee who wants to take time off, regardless of whether there is a limit.

Also, when it comes to taking time off, you have to just suck it up and do it. Our work ethic makes us feel like slackers for it, and makes us project that others are judging us likewise, but the truth is that if you have been doing a good job, you deserve the time off and you are entitled to it. It's normal and it's a good thing, nobody wishes they had worked more on their death bed, et cetera.

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#54

Post by funkah »

megamark16 wrote: post #42
funkah wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is how my company works too, and I think it's a great idea, assuming that the culture isn't one where people are belittled for taking vacations. If the culture causes people to feel a complex about taking time off, people will just resent the policy. Personally, I really enjoy the flexibility it affords, and it's quite a golden handcuff when I think about leaving to find another job. Looking at job descriptions…

3.5 weeks? Sheesh, I only get 2 weeks at my current job. One week gets used up throughout the year for random errands, kids school stuff, that sort of thing. That leaves one week to actually take a vacation, and this year we just skipped it all together because about the time the kids were out of school my work got really busy.

http://www.monster.com

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#55

Post by arethuza »

PonyGumbo wrote: post #36
rimantas wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my country you normally get 28 days of vacations of which at least two weeks must be consecutive — that's by law.

Where are you? I want to go to there.

It's the EU Working Time Directive:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Time_Directive

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#57

Post by dkokelley »

supahfly_remix wrote: post #7
rfrey wrote: post #2

The company I work for recently adopted a NetFlix style "we don't track vacation" policy. It's been about nine months, and anecdotes (no data available - we don't track!) suggest total vacation time taken is less than half of last year. I suppose that whether that's good or bad is pretty subjective.

My company did the same. It must be a fad among CEOs. While on the face of it this policy looks like an improvement, it turned an entitlement into something that depends on the generosity of one's boss. Also, keep in mind that when quitting you don't get any accrued money. I highly dislike it.

A few things. First, if the policy really does change from an entitlement to an unspoken privilege granted by your immediate superior, then I doubt the policy was implemented properly. I suppose it depends on the industry, but if corporate policy says your vacations are not tracked, it stands to reason that your time off can't be requested/approved/denied. If you get your work done, your company should by happy with your performance.

Also, when you do leave a company, you don't always get the vacation days as a bonus in your paycheck. Sometimes those days just disappear. What's even worse is that some vacation days may be a part of your compensation plan, but work pressures prevent you from using them, and they expire within a year. Vacation days are hardly an entitlement.

Personally, my ideal work situation would allow me unlimited and untracked vacation days, absolute freedom to work when, where, and how I choose, and pay me ONLY based on performance (both my direct contributions and a percentage of overall company profits). I suppose this is fairly close to actual business ownership.

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#58

Post by rphlx »

Slavery started when slave drivers realized that they could take everything, then give a little back, reluctantly, infrequently, and unpredictably, and engender gratitude instead of anger in their slaves.

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#59

Post by yalogin »

I have only heard negative feedback on the "we don't track vacation days" policy.

How about if they say - you get a minimum of X vacation days per year and on top of that you can take any number you want. At least people will take the X days without any feeling of guilt.

Re: Our Vacation Policy: Take Some

#60

Post by bugsy »

Hm. The thing is, tech firms are known for having amorphous and ill defined vacation policies that seem very open in print, but in practice, no one takes it because you're not really allowed to.

So I want to know.

1. What is the average number of weeks per year taken by US employees. This tells the reality apart from the showmanship.

2. Please confirm that by "doesn't accrue" you mean that when you lay someone off, they are not compensated for time not taken off.

3. Please explain why US employees are denied vacation accrual if your intent is truly to have a good vacation policy.

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