Poll
Question:
You get 3 weeks vacation...you can buy 1 more week for 1.92% of your pay. What do you do?
Option 1: Buy it. I'm lazy and don't want to work.
votes: 9
Option 2: Buy it. I'm European and believe in taking vacation (note: this option is redundant with option 1).
votes: 10
Option 3: Don't buy it. I just surf the net at work, and that is probably what I'd do on vacation anyway. I'd rather be paid for it.
votes: 4
Option 4: Don't buy it. Work and money fill the void that is my life, so please don't take both from me.
votes: 2
Option 5: Does not compute. JiB does not offer paid time off (Jaron option)
votes: 0
Benefits enrollment is ongoing. WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!???
(I'm buying an extra week, I'm just curious what others think)
A bit of answer 3 and a bit of answer 4. I'm a workaholic. I have like 8 weeks of unused vacation. :P
I've already got six weeks of per year and can take more days from overtime, so that I usually have between seven and eight weeks vacation per year anyway. So, no, I wouldn't buy more vacation time. That is sufficient.
If I only had three weeks vacation then hell yes, I would buy more vacation time.
Is using buying vacation time the right perspective? Isn't it more of a case of not selling your free time to your employer for a salary?
Quote from: Zanza on November 14, 2014, 03:37:13 PM
Is using buying vacation time the right perspective? Isn't it more of a case of not selling your free time to your employer for a salary?
That's just how most people here phrase it. I love my vacay time & will take all I can get, but I don't wanna take a pay cut of any sort. I get 6 weeks now which is enough as long as I don't burn through it too early in the year.
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 03:42:30 PM
I get 6 weeks now which is enough as long as I don't burn through it too early in the year.
Wow. Are you sure you are in America?
Around here I'm lucky with 3 weeks (which is really sort of 4 when you count in personal days and floating holidays and make up days for holidays I have to work). My brother only gets 1 week.
I get 4 weeks, and would buy another if I could.
That reminds me, starting next May I start accumulating more leave, let's pull it up...
8 hours of leave per payperiod instead of 6. :yeah: 26 days per year instead of 20. :)
I don't need more vacation. When would I find the time to use it?
If my budget could support what I wanted to do that week, then yes.
Quote from: alfred russel on November 14, 2014, 03:45:42 PM
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 03:42:30 PM
I get 6 weeks now which is enough as long as I don't burn through it too early in the year.
Wow. Are you sure you are in America?
Around here I'm lucky with 3 weeks (which is really sort of 4 when you count in personal days and floating holidays and make up days for holidays I have to work). My brother only gets 1 week.
I've been with the same company for 9.5 years. It's the least they owe me.
Buying the week seems like a no brainer to me. But the better option is to negotiate more paid holiday time.
I would if I needed it. Right now I get six weeks or so, and don't even get to take more than three. but yeah, if I was one of those who only got two weeks, and felt i could use the break, and didn't need the money, then yeah.
Or do what CC said.
Quote from: alfred russel on November 14, 2014, 03:25:40 PM
Benefits enrollment is ongoing. WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!???
(I'm buying an extra week, I'm just curious what others think)
What is it costing? I've seen selling back unused vacation time for cash at 50% value (which I thought was kind of silly, but when you're paid for shit anyway...) but not buying vacation.
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 04:07:45 PM
I've been with the same company for 9.5 years. It's the least they owe me.
Do you get into a new vacation bracket at 10 years?
I used to get 5 a year for the first two and then 6 in year three, plus you could carry over 2 weeks max from the previous year into the new one.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:17:41 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on November 14, 2014, 03:25:40 PM
Benefits enrollment is ongoing. WHAT SHOULD I DO!!!???
(I'm buying an extra week, I'm just curious what others think)
What is it costing? I've seen selling back unused vacation time for cash at 50% value (which I thought was kind of silly, but when you're paid for shit anyway...) but not buying vacation.
Thread opening question: "1 more week for 1.92% of your pay"
A year has about 250 working days. Five days are 2% of that, so "paying" 1.92% of your salary for five more days off is a bargain.
I imagine with holidays and the vacation weeks he's already got that fraction is probably the exact portion of his time those days cover.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:21:17 PM
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 04:07:45 PM
I've been with the same company for 9.5 years. It's the least they owe me.
Do you get into a new vacation bracket at 10 years?
I used to get 5 a year for the first two and then 6 in year three, plus you could carry over 2 weeks max from the previous year into the new one.
Yeah but I think I only get a few additional days. Maybe not even a week. In January I'll get a prorated increase in PTO since I will hit my 10 years in 2015 but not until May. And they calculate it to the hundredth of an hour to be oh so extra precise. So who knows what decimalized number I'll get to add to the 2.68 hours I've been carrying over for a couple years.
Quote from: Zanza on November 14, 2014, 04:22:22 PM
Thread opening question: "1 more week for 1.92% of your pay"
A year has about 250 working days. Five days are 2% of that, so "paying" 1.92% of your salary for five more days off is a bargain.
1 FTE = 2080 hours. Somebody's 1.92% at $20/hr is substantially different than someone else's 1.92% at $28/hr. That's why I asked what it's costing: not to know his salary, but is he going to see diminishing returns?
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 04:27:18 PM
Yeah but I think I only get a few additional days. Maybe not even a week. In January I'll get a prorated increase in PTO since I will hit my 10 years in 2015 but not until May. And they calculate it to the hundredth of an hour to be oh so extra precise. So who knows what decimalized number I'll get to add to the 2.68 hours I've been carrying over for a couple years.
At least you're doing your part for the company.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:17:41 PM
What is it costing? I've seen selling back unused vacation time for cash at 50% value (which I thought was kind of silly, but when you're paid for shit anyway...) but not buying vacation.
Buying a week reduces your salary 1/52nd.
You can't sell it back. So if I buy it and then don't take vacation, I don't get my money back. I think this is because people were buying vacation they didn't intend to use, and then treating that as a christmas bonus. We can't carry over vacation either.
Quote from: alfred russel on November 14, 2014, 04:35:36 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:17:41 PM
What is it costing? I've seen selling back unused vacation time for cash at 50% value (which I thought was kind of silly, but when you're paid for shit anyway...) but not buying vacation.
Buying a week reduces your salary 1/52nd.
You can't sell it back. So if I buy it and then don't take vacation, I don't get my money back. I think this is because people were buying vacation they didn't intend to use, and then treating that as a christmas bonus. We can't carry over vacation either.
That would be contrary to our Employment Standards legislation. That would be considered earned vacation and if not used would be paid out at the end of the year. And as a policy issue, why would the company care? Because they are not going to get a windfall?
AR, in your situation, with only 3 weeks holidays otherwise, and generally low expenses (other than your hobby of liking to travel) I would definitely buy the week.
For me... I get 4 weeks, plus a week of management supplement (in lieu of any overtime) - it's hard to use the time since I have to book it 8+ months in advance due to court commitments. I probably wouldn't do it.
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 14, 2014, 04:57:51 PM
That would be contrary to our Employment Standards legislation. That would be considered earned vacation and if not used would be paid out at the end of the year. And as a policy issue, why would the company care? Because they are not going to get a windfall?
More legit reasons would be that it then has to be shown as a liability to the company that makes your balance sheet look worse. Also there are some processing and HR complexities that could be involved (we get unlimited sick time, and have flexible work arrangements, so sometimes the line can get blurry between what is vacation and what is not--not allowing unused vacation payouts prevents disgruntled employees from claiming they are due a windfall).
Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2014, 05:00:51 PM
AR, in your situation, with only 3 weeks holidays otherwise, and generally low expenses (other than your hobby of liking to travel) I would definitely buy the week.
For me... I get 4 weeks, plus a week of management supplement (in lieu of any overtime) - it's hard to use the time since I have to book it 8+ months in advance due to court commitments. I probably wouldn't do it.
What if you have a hole in your scedule because something big settles? Can you be spontaneous in those circumstances?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 14, 2014, 05:02:01 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2014, 05:00:51 PM
I have to book it 8+ months in advance
Yikes
I just barely got my summer 2015 holidays booked in time the other day.
They're generally happy to book holidays for you - as long as it doesn't conflict with any trials scheduled. If you do have a trial scheduled... well you can try to work out a trade on your own with a colleague, but other than that you're out of luck.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:33:37 PM
At least you're doing your part for the company.
And they're further rewarding me by letting me pick something out of the 10 Year Anniversary section of the catalog!! What should I go for-- the one person tent, tiny portable electric "grill", a previous generation video game console, or a programmable coffee maker*??
*I haven't actually seen that section yet; just speculating on the lameness
Quote from: crazy canuck on November 14, 2014, 05:07:08 PM
Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2014, 05:00:51 PM
AR, in your situation, with only 3 weeks holidays otherwise, and generally low expenses (other than your hobby of liking to travel) I would definitely buy the week.
For me... I get 4 weeks, plus a week of management supplement (in lieu of any overtime) - it's hard to use the time since I have to book it 8+ months in advance due to court commitments. I probably wouldn't do it.
What if you have a hole in your scedule because something big settles? Can you be spontaneous in those circumstances?
Yes, but you can't really book stuff last minute (in particular with Mrs B also working). So, I had a week long trial get adjourned on Monday. I was spontaneous and took Thursday afternoon off. Woo.
Wow. Do you occasionally mix some real coffee in with the decaf?
Quote from: The Brain on November 14, 2014, 05:14:21 PM
Wow. Do you occasionally mix some real coffee in with the decaf?
Absolutely not. :mad:
My hands shake if I drink too much caffeine. So I stick to decaf. :(
:lol:
Pleted pants are not very spontaneous. :(
Time spent does not equal productivity. Take the time even if you don't wind up taking a trip or anything. Also, law 30 says make your accomplishments seem effortless. You can take all the vacation you want because you're just that damn good.
Unless you're one of those poor dudes who need to bank the billable hours. Sucks to be them.
I get 52 weeks.
I just surf the net at work most of the time.
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 05:11:24 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:33:37 PM
At least you're doing your part for the company.
And they're further rewarding me by letting me pick something out of the 10 Year Anniversary section of the catalog!! What should I go for-- the one person tent, tiny portable electric "grill", a previous generation video game console, or a programmable coffee maker*??
*I haven't actually seen that section yet; just speculating on the lameness
I just went through the 5 year anniversary deal...not a lot of great stuff in the catalog. Except they had a 2 piece luggage set, and I could use new luggage. The picture showed a large bag you would check, and a carry on. I have a good carry on, but could use a big check in bag, so went for that. Only when it arrived it was a carry on bag and a completely useless toiletry bag. :rolleyes:
Hopefully I will choose more wisely for my 10 year anniversary.
Yes. But I would settle to get a day off for every 8 hrs overtime (about 600 hrs this year so far, which I don't get paid for).
By the way, is this 1.92% of your monthly pay or annual pay?
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 04:12:57 AM
By the way, is this 1.92% of your monthly pay or annual pay?
If it was monthly pay the only rational thing to do would be to take four weeks extra per month and just work another job while still getting 90% of your salary.
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 04:18:33 AM
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 04:12:57 AM
By the way, is this 1.92% of your monthly pay or annual pay?
If it was monthly pay the only rational thing to do would be to take four weeks extra per month and just work another job while still getting 90% of your salary.
Another job where you could do the same thing.
Quote from: Martinus on November 14, 2014, 03:31:01 PM
A bit of answer 3 and a bit of answer 4. I'm a workaholic. I have like 8 weeks of unused vacation. :P
Same. :(
Life is just one big long vacation,
from death.
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 04:18:33 AM
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 04:12:57 AM
By the way, is this 1.92% of your monthly pay or annual pay?
If it was monthly pay the only rational thing to do would be to take four weeks extra per month and just work another job while still getting 90% of your salary.
Then like hell I wouldn't do it. That's a lot of money.
Essentially, the question is "would you take a week of unpaid holiday?" Why would you unless you had a pressing reason?
No. $ is more important.
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 09:03:14 AM
Essentially, the question is "would you take a week of unpaid holiday?" Why would you unless you had a pressing reason?
Some of us work to live, not vice versa. If you need a "pressing reason" for vacation, you are doing it wrong.
My last job I got 5 weeks (6 counting Christmas) which seems to be the norm. I don't need anymore so I wouldn't.
If I only had three weeks then yeah.
I get 4 weeks and two days, plus the week of Christmas off. I have a hard time using that amount up.
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 09:25:07 AM
Some of us work to live, not vice versa.
Others of us press on for no reason other than inertia. :bowler:
Quote from: alfred russel on November 15, 2014, 10:44:02 AM
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 09:25:07 AM
Some of us work to live, not vice versa.
Others of us press on for no reason other than inertia. :bowler:
Yeah and that's a trap though. Time is not money. Time is way more valuable than money.
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 09:25:07 AM
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 09:03:14 AM
Essentially, the question is "would you take a week of unpaid holiday?" Why would you unless you had a pressing reason?
Some of us work to live, not vice versa. If you need a "pressing reason" for vacation, you are doing it wrong.
My point was that I have enough vacation I get on the basis of my contract. I don't need extra unpaid vacation.
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 15, 2014, 09:26:02 AM
My last job I got 5 weeks (6 counting Christmas) which seems to be the norm. I don't need anymore so I wouldn't.
If I only had three weeks then yeah.
I get 26 working days (not counting public holidays). I wouldn't take extra unpaid vacation.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on November 15, 2014, 02:33:56 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on November 15, 2014, 10:44:02 AM
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 09:25:07 AM
Some of us work to live, not vice versa.
Others of us press on for no reason other than inertia. :bowler:
Yeah and that's a trap though. Time is not money. Time is way more valuable than money.
I think it depends on the money. ;)
My contract stipulates that I can take three months of unpaid vacation every five years. I consider doing that and using my airline miles for a round-the-world ticket. No pressing reason other than the wish to experience new stuff. I don't really need the money for anything, whereas I always love travelling, especially for longer stretches.
Quote from: Martinus on November 15, 2014, 02:39:45 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on November 15, 2014, 02:33:56 PM
Quote from: alfred russel on November 15, 2014, 10:44:02 AM
Quote from: Zanza on November 15, 2014, 09:25:07 AM
Some of us work to live, not vice versa.
Others of us press on for no reason other than inertia. :bowler:
Yeah and that's a trap though. Time is not money. Time is way more valuable than money.
I think it depends on the money. ;)
Money allows you the freedom to do more things. To do things you need time. Without time there is no point to having money.
Quote from: derspiess on November 14, 2014, 05:11:24 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 14, 2014, 04:33:37 PM
At least you're doing your part for the company.
And they're further rewarding me by letting me pick something out of the 10 Year Anniversary section of the catalog!! What should I go for-- the one person tent, tiny portable electric "grill", a previous generation video game console, or a programmable coffee maker*??
*I haven't actually seen that section yet; just speculating on the lameness
What are you complaining about? :huh:
Over here, the rewards are:
10 Years - Jack shit.
20 years - Jack shit and sarcastic remarks by management that you're in the company for a long time.
30 years - Jack shit and stares at the 'geezer' that's still working in the same company.