no vacation nation

[MoeMoe]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_868660.html

interesting USA, no vacation nation...think its true?

[Steveo]

I know my last vacation that didn't include 3 day weekends was when I got married in 06

[LazerFlash]

Although I've been out of 'Corporate America' for about a decade, I can tell you that one reason that Americans might tend to take less vacation time, is that their companies made it harder and harder to use it, (even though many now have use-it-or-lose-it policies). Back-in-the-day, when I had actual "annual leave" to use, trying to actually schedule and then take it was a practical impossibility. I know that my BIL, who is a contractor working for one of those alphabet gov't agencies, usually ends up scheduling/canceling/rescheduling his vacation at least once during the year. And, then, there was the phenomenon (at least for me) where I worked harder the week before and the week after, that I pretty much felt like taking vacation was a waste of time.

[danid512]

I can see this. Especially in bigger cities where people are more absorbed with their careers.

Myself, it's technically very easy to take time off. My boss is generous, and understanding.

However, I don't really have anyone that can do my job in my absence. There's one person that can do the basics for me but honestly, it's such a pain to catch up, and go back and typically fix what was done when I was out, that taking time off for a vacation is slightly terrifying. I do take the occasional three day weekend for my sanity. And I'm thinking about taking a week at the end of october to hit the beach but that'd be the first actual vacation I've taken in my professional life (which, mind you, has only been about three years!).

[Black Dog]

Vacation? What is this thing you speak of?

[Kensey]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=2][COLOR=darkred]Although I've been out of 'Corporate America' for about a decade, I can tell you that one reason that Americans might tend to take less vacation time, is that their companies made it harder and harder to use it, (even though many now have use-it-or-lose-it policies). Back-in-the-day, when I had actual "annual leave" to use, trying to actually schedule and then take it was a practical impossibility. I know that my BIL, who is a contractor working for one of those alphabet gov't agencies, usually ends up scheduling/canceling/rescheduling his vacation at least once during the year.

My last manager at Unisys was like this. He actually told us once "I don't see why people have so much vacation built up. Taking two weeks or more off is irresponsible, you should use it in one-week increments or less over the year." The same guy would then give you a headache if you tried to actually take time off for any reason (when I called out for snow once he replied "I don't get why it's so hard for you to get in, we only got a dusting here in Maryland").

Admittedly he was an outlier; most of the managers before and after him were much more reasonable. But there are plenty more just like him out there.

However, I don't really have anyone that can do my job in my absence. There's one person that can do the basics for me but honestly, it's such a pain to catch up, and go back and typically fix what was done when I was out, that taking time off for a vacation is slightly terrifying.

Are you in IT too? Because I've been that guy more often than not. Admittedly some of it is just that I like things done a certain way, but equally often what gets done is wrong in some fundamental fashion, and I have to go back and do it over which takes twice as long as it would have to do it myself in the first place...

My last couple of "vacations" have coincided with the birth of our kids.

[danid512]

Are you in IT too? Because I've been that guy more often than not. Admittedly some of it is just that I like things done a certain way, but equally often what gets done is wrong in some fundamental fashion, and I have to go back and do it over which takes twice as long as it would have to do it myself in the first place...

My last couple of "vacations" have coincided with the birth of our kids.

Nope. Manage a veterinary practice. Things go... poorly when I'm not there. Thankfully I got semi-smart about 6 months ago and started cross training some of my staff to be able to do the daily basics. But there are some things that just aren't feasible for them to do when I'm out. But at least things don't break down if I miss a day like they used to!

I feel for you IT guys. I have a few friends that do it and they have a very hard time missing work!

[cindylu]

Thankfully I got semi-smart about 6 months ago and started cross training some of my staff to be able to do the daily basics.

That is exactly what you should do. I was very lucky that my boss was a big believer that if you earn vacation time you should/must take it. Get refreshed. He also taught us to cross-train each other. There should always be a back up. He did not want to interrupt anyone on vacation and encouraged everyone to back up one another.

[Tony]

In small retail I could take off all I wanted, but didn't get paid for any of it. Useless. The wife is in larger Euro-origin retail and gets like a whopping (for the US) 4 weeks a year of paid vacation. But it too turns out to be mostly useless since it can only be taken at certain times and they don't pay her nearly enough to actually afford travel - which is what she likes to equate vacation to.

[grafxgirl]

The same guy would then give you a headache if you tried to actually take time off for any reason (when I called out for snow once he replied "I don't get why it's so hard for you to get in, we only got a dusting here in Maryland").

The VP of the company I used to work for was like that too (I had to answer to him). One day when I called in because of the ice up on the mountain, I talked to the graphics department manager (my direct boss). He told me the VP was going to raise heck. I told him if they wanted me to come in he could use his nice Jeep to come get me. Well, he did, and he never volunteered or complained when I called in due to weather again. He said he was terrified driving on the mountain in that weather.

[kallista]

In small retail I could take off all I wanted, but didn't get paid for any of it. Useless. The wife is in larger Euro-origin retail and gets like a whopping (for the US) 4 weeks a year of paid vacation. But it too turns out to be mostly useless since it can only be taken at certain times and they don't pay her nearly enough to actually afford travel - which is what she likes to equate vacation to.

Actually I get 6 weeks a year off, but as with any other retail job there is a lot of times I can't take off. The months of November and December, the week of Valentine's day and the 2 weeks before Easter.

Other than that as long as I have no open positions or have to travel for the company I can do what I want. Though they don't like us to take more than a week at a time if I really needed it it would be approved.

[Wormdoc]

Black Dog, vacation if for folks who don't supply us with the life sustaining black gold. For those who do, well, since we can't live without it no vacation for you!

[BigTom]

I've spent way too many years working my ass off without any vacations. Believe my time off is much more important to me than my time at work (as some of my customers already know). I had a contractor, who scheduled a meeting he wanted me to attend during the first week of deer season, tell me I needed to "get my priorities right". I told him my priorities were right. People work hard all year long so they can take a week of deer season off, NOBODY hunts all year long so they can take a week off to go to work. When he sold his business, a couple years later, he admitted I was right and came to our hunting camp to hunt.

[derricksonb]

I'm in IT and part of my comp package is 5 weeks of leave per year of which I usually take about 1-2 weeks. The problem is not scheduling or having the request rejected as I don't request leave. I schedule my vacations and if my employers don't like it... so sad too bad. My reasoning for not using all 5 weeks is two fold. First being that GG only gets 2 weeks per year so at this time our leave is quite disproportionate. Second, my company allows me to carry 480 hours of leave. I've been there for 2.5 years and have built up 240+ hours. Once I reach 480 I can then take two different approaches as anything over 480 becomes use it or lose it OR they can cut me a check for the overage twice a year. Not to mention that if/when one parts ways with the company that accrued vacation time makes for a very healthy parting gift.....

[lar]

Lord I need a vacation and I am on the countdown to a nice 5 days in Hatteras, I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! And frankly I don't care what goes on at work while I am gone and if anyone else I work with goes on vacation I will NEVER call them I will just find another way.

[kemeigen]

I take vacation time as often as I can, whether that means a day or two here and there or a week at a time. I do worry about what's going on at work, but they call me if there is a major problem. The last vacation we took I was called twice. I'd rather try to deal with it when it's happening than deal with it when I get back as I can usually fix it over the phone. The only issue I have taking leave is that I try to schedule my leave around my technicians. I always feel that their leave comes first (my mom thinks this is crazy talk). Now I AM worried about taking 6 weeks of maternity leave at the end of the year and leaving them here by themselves for that long and during our College of American Pathologists inspection window. I really don't want to have to go in for that right after having a baby.

[PezCollector]

BDub, check your co policy, vacation is a liability on the books - and don't discover, like I did, right before leaving my last job, that it only paid out at 25% - I had 180 hours :-(

I won't waste vacation now, my new job has a use it or lose it policy, it resets each year on your anniversary. Plus, I negotiated an extra week just to keep up with Bubba (who has been at his job 17+ years and has massive amounts of leave).

Tony - Vacation includes a variation of the word - VACATE - vacate your job, and home. Kallista works hard, and she deserves fabulous vacations!!!!

[derricksonb]

Under our company's policy annual leave pays out at 100% of the current value, but I believe it is taxed at the same rate as capital gains or bonuses.

When I left my last company I had accrued 268 hours (They would only allow carrying over 240 into the next fiscal year) which thy cashed out at the same tax rate. After I left they changed their policy and lowered the number of hours that could be carried over to 160.

[lar]

Whooo, you are some vacation accruing people. We can only cap out at 80 hours at our company I think.

[danid512]

Lord I need a vacation and I am on the countdown to a nice 5 days in Hatteras, I CANNOT WAIT!!!!! And frankly I don't care what goes on at work while I am gone and if anyone else I work with goes on vacation I will NEVER call them I will just find another way.

Ugh I'm so jealous right now. I've been trying to figure out a weekend to get down to Hatteras for the past two months. Usually doesn't work out for me till October or so. But then it's nice and quiet, at least.

Enjoy! And... go eat at Owens.