Forced Vacation Rant

**TheRootedNomad** · 06-17-2008, 07:23 AM

I want to say first off that I am a BIG believer of taking your vacation time. I am fortunate to work for an organization that has carried, by comparison to other places, a decent amount of vacation and sick time for it's employees. I have been here a L-O-N-G time and have managed to save some while still taking time off.

We are now being told that we have to use it up before the end of the year. In my situation that means I have to, as far as I'm concerned, blow 7 weeks worth of time in a 6 monthish period. As employees we didn't know this was coming. I had planned on taking a few weeks of this. The other 3 to 4 weeks were part of my time cushion. I don't need that much time off in the next 6 months. I haven't planned/saved to take that much time off in the next few months. I wanted that time for future family health issues or cool vacations we're not at the point for yet, or a summer off with the kids. Now I'm being "strongly encouraged" to use it. (read ya better use it up). I voiced my concerns and the solution offered for my concerns was...if I need time later on I can request it and borrow it from what I would earn in the future.....I don't want to go into "time debt" when I currently have time I've earned. Another wonderful being even suggested I just go take a loan and take that dream vacation now. ..... None of these people are on the same page as me. I'm still voicing my opinions but I don't expect things to change. Just needed to vent to people who might get it.

Thanks for listening.

**Russ** · 06-17-2008, 07:35 AM

I can understand..sort of. For the longest time we could carry over 5 days from year to year. When it finally looked like I would be able to do this, down comes the memo that this was no longer an option. Got that memo in November of that year.
All I can suggest is take a lot of long weekends.

**Moor** · 06-17-2008, 07:36 AM

dh has the same thing every year.
he can save only so much time each year, the reast is use it or loose it. so that is why we camp a lot in the summer.
but when he has to go TDY, that's when he uses a lot of his time also.
so i completely understand you being upset with this. it sucks that you can't save some of that time you have built up.

**The Muse** · 06-17-2008, 07:36 AM

Most places I've worked for didn't let me carry it at all. Even when my workload wouldn't allow me to take it.

I second the long weekend suggestion.

Will they let you sell it back? My sister has the option to cash hers out at the end of the year.

**HisDaisy** · 06-17-2008, 08:09 AM

My DH must use all of his vacation each year. I like that fact that he must take time off, however he is so busy he has no time to take it.

**McD** · 06-17-2008, 09:27 AM

If you can cash it out and keep the money in a savings account for a future vacation or to replace a paycheck if you get sick, that may help.

We can carry time over, cash it out, or donate it to others to to the leave sharing bank. The lsb is an option we have that offers donated pto to employees who have health emergencies etc.

At the bank I work at, once we have been here 1 year, we are required to take 5 consecutive days off work. This is for compliance and to detect any possible fraud or stealing by employees, etc.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-17-2008, 10:39 AM

Thats is actually pretty common practice. Most places you get x amount per yr , use it or loose it. IF you don't want to take the time off don't, just know that the time will not roll over.
I guess it was never a bug deal to me because I never used all my vacation.

**Izzy0906** · 06-17-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by AnnK

Thats is actually pretty common practice. Most places you get x amount per yr , use it or loose it. IF you don't want to take the time off don't, just know that the time will not roll over.
I guess it was never a bug deal to me because I never used all my vacation.

Same here, you either used it or lost it at all my jobs including my current one. I was never able to carry any over.

**leezza** · 06-17-2008, 01:25 PM

I know lots of places do this.....I think they have to do it in writing if you have a company hand book it has to be in there or they have to amend it.....It also depends on the state you are in whether they can just take it or not.

They can take away personal time and sick time.....but I think paid vacation time is a little bit different according to labor laws?

I would make sure to have a written record of how much time off that you have......discuss with HR or someone very high up the food chain and see if you can carry 2-3 weeks over into next year.

If you don't want to take a big chunk of time I agree with the other here maybe take every monday or friday off.....or maybe take the whole week at Thanksgiving and Christmas-thru to new years.

I have always wondered why so many companies do this and then they want to make you feel bad when you take the time.

JMHO,
leezza

**freebs** · 06-17-2008, 07:01 PM

I would never loose it! that is paid time they are giving you, why let them have the money for it??

**itsahumanzoo** · 06-17-2008, 07:09 PM

When DH's company changed over, they couldn't transfer vacation time. But instead of use it or loose it, it was use it or we'll pay you for it. So he did both! He took an extra long Christmas break and then the rest was a little after-christmas bonus money!

If they'll buy it from you that would be a nice chunk of change!

**Buc-O-Mama** · 06-17-2008, 08:28 PM

Sometimes big companies just have to get that off their books from one fiscal reason or another. It's really bad for you, because it's a change in their policy and you couldn't know it was coming. You might want to talk to HR and see if taking all of it would be necessary because in your situation it's a big chunk of time. Maybe they'd be happy with half. If you aren't comfortable asking, you could try to use part for a nice break and a few weeks to do a side job or temp work. Just a thought.

**StartingOver** · 06-17-2008, 11:37 PM

Every January I get a call from our HR dept, with a reminder to please use up my vacation time. They allow us to carry them over, but they do not like to do it.

I hate taking time off just to be off. I like to have something planned. I really struggle with using all my vacation time each year.

**tkn4lif** · 06-18-2008, 03:04 PM

We have a use or lose policy at my work too. If you have over (200, i think) hours in vacation time saved up the you have to burn the remaining time before the end of the year.

**Kitten20** · 06-18-2008, 03:18 PM

My company lets their employees accrue up to 200ish hours of vacation (and sick). We don't lose it at the end of the year, but once you hit the max, you can't gain any more without using some of it. I like this policy. We also get 1 personal day, which does not roll over and must be used by the end of the year. You don't need to give a lot of advanced notice (like with vacation) or give any explaination when you use the personal day.