Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

My job is ridiculous when it comes to this! I'm so annoyed and depressed right now. I wanted to book a trip a year in advance (a big trip - like a tour) and there is no guarantee to get time off b/c we have a seniority based system. Other places, I hear, will work short staffed in order to allow their employees the time off they need.

Message edited 2/5/2008 12:23:44 AM.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

i have no restrictions. If there is a big event coming up then I may have to move things around.

If I plan it far in advance there is never a problem.

All in all, no sweat by me.

You want to come work with me?

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

No paid vacation and taking any time off, except for when you're ill is frowned upon, in general.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

i'm so sorry - i have no words of wisdom b/c my company is great with vaca's and taking time off - i'm so sorry that you are dealing with this though - it sounds really unfair. to give you an idea - i get two full weeks paid vaca each year (additional upon request will be non paid but can usually be accomodated) - plus, 8 sick days, 5 personal days and 2 floating holidays per year - we used to do a roll-over system but it got too crazy for accounting to keep track of - so, they just pay us a % for each day we don't use out at the end of the year.

the only thing is we can't take any time off during tax season - unless it is an emergency -- from 2/1 until 4/15.

Message edited 1/21/2008 8:51:23 PM.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

i can't take off the last day or the first day of the month. if need to book a trip, i don't book it until i get the aproval that i have the time of

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

i have the same problem at my job. i thought that by putting it in early (i need vacation in may and i gave her the request in january) i would get it granted but I have to wait until april to find out if i can have it because someone more senior then me might want the time and they have until then to ask for it

my old job was tough sometimes but so not this tough.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

We have a certain time that we're not allowed to take vacation because it's our busy season (like mid aug-early oct), but other than that it's fine. In general I have to check with my co-worker to make sure she's not planning to take off and then I say "I"ll be out from X-X" and my boss says "No problem"

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

My job is great about getting time off, though we do use a seniority system. However our vacation requests for the year are due in January, and if you request time off after that point it is on first come first served. However, if there is a day that someone really wants we work it out amongst ourselves (for example I originally requested the day after Thanksgiving off, but since I was going out on maternity leave the following month I didn't want the day, so I gave it to someone else). My DHs job is terrible. He's been there almost 4 years and still chooses last (and it will be almost March before he gets his picks and the entire summer will be blocked).

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I have no vacation issues at work:

Me: I'm going on vacation from x to x do you have a problem with that?
Boss: Fine if you have to go on vaccation
Me: But OF COURSE i have to go on vacation.

I would have a huge problem if I was unable to schedule a week off. As far as I am concerned seniority is fine but if everyone says that they dont want that time off and you schedule it, you should not be forced to change your plans because someone else decided that NOW they wanted the time off. i dont know what kind of work you do but I would never be able to tolerate that kind of enviornment. I understand the concept of not leaving yourself understaffed but how many people are there that two people couldnt be off the same week?

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

We pretty much have a first come first served basis. I always check with my bosses first. Basically I can't take off when they are off. But I've been with them so long that I know when they go and they know when I go. I pretty much take the same weeks every year.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I have learned to no longer ask.

I just "inform" them what time I will be off. I don't ask per se.

So I will say
"I will need to take some time off on .... date".
"I have some personal business to take care of and will take..... days off".

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

Yes very easy. Obviously I plan my vacation around major meetings, but otherwise no problem at all.

I send an email saying, "I'd like to take vacation on x-y dates." and then add it whichever is applicable:

- I will be accessible by cell but will be unable to check email.
- I will be accessible by cell & email.
- I will not have acess to email or cell but can be reached in an emergency at the following numbers.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

Wow, that sounds awful! I don't think I would last long at a company like that! My company is very understanding and generous with time off.

I have never been denied a vaction day, I have also sceheduled to work some days from home, if I have family obligations, and also close deadlines.

This past Chirstmas Holiday our office was down to 20% of the normal staff, but everyone who asked got the days off.

I'm sorry your company seems to unreasonable.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

It is extremely easy for me to get time off. My boss is one of the most flexible guys I know. As long as I give him notice, he never turns me down. I took 3 weeks off for my wedding/HM & he told me to take more if I would like My boss knows I always take a week in November & then a week in the summer. Then most of the time I use the rest of my time for long weekends or just days off.

We have no restrictions either in terms of big meetings. I try to schedule my vacations around times of the year where I know it is less busy. Since I am in a small company, if more then 3 of us request off for the same week, the company gets shutdown for the week Not normal, I know but I love it

Message edited 1/22/2008 7:08:50 AM.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

No problems b/c I don't get paid vacation. I have been working there a year and a half and I have taken almost 3 months off. No problem b/c I don't get paid vacation so they can't really say no.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

super easy, we get PTO (23 days this year) and I just email my boss when I want to take a day off

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I have it pretty easy. My boss is very accommodating. Up to a week at a time, I just email him a few days beforehand. One or two days, I just tell him the day before. More than a week needs a bit more time, but it's still not usually a problem. When DW was pg, I told him "I'm taking off two weeks after the baby is born. If I don't show up to work, it's because we're in the hospital, and that's when my vacation starts. "

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

They are very good about time off. As ling as it doesnt overlap with another employees vacation, it's always fine.

I would think advance notice of a year would be sufficient. What if it were your Honeymoon? Would they still tell you it wasnt guaranteed?

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I work by myself... so I have to figure it out btwn my 15 different personalities

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I have no problem with vacation time. There is another lady in a different office that does the same job as me, for the same dept. My boss wouldn't want us to take the same week, though that problem has never come up yet. But I'm sure if we both had a trip planned and paid for, he would give it to us.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

That is really unreasonable, Kara.

I've never had a problem with time off, i just need to check with my office manager. One of us has to be here.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

they are great with me and my vacation time... im lucky for that!

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

For me, personally, I just have to notify my boss who happens to be the CEO/Prez of the company.

All other departments must submit an email request 30 days prior to vacation with specific dates of vacation.

Within a week you will receive a response back with either an approval or denial. Typically all requests are approved unless another person within your department already has approved time off.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

I have to check and see if anyone else is taking off before I can take off. I have never called in sick yet to my job and have been here for 4 years. If anything, I come in, do what I need to and go home. When I took 2 weeks off from vacation back in Nov, my back up was good but not all too thorough and a few co-workers told me that I was never allowed to take off again. They were joking but man, I would like to take a day off here and there without having to always worry about it.

Re: Is it easy to request vacation time off at your job?

Ugh I can totally relate. I used to work in a lab where only one person was allowed out at a time - understandable. It was just a fight every year trying to get vacation time. I hated it!!!!

What was worse than that was that when we called in sick we had to call THE BOSS at HOME at 7 in the morning. Needless to say it was hard for me to call in sick as well.