Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
#46
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
I think even those of us who have lived here for some years would agree. It's very different from the UK and Europe and frankly sucks. The fundamental point though is that's the way it is and, for the new or potential emigrant, it's something you accept and live with, or decide that it's a good reason not to move here. Being aware of it in the first place is the smart thing. Bitching about it once here (and I'm not suggesting you are doing this) is not.
Well said, but I think the huge mistake people make is that they think Canada is automatically Canada and just focus on the country. Even if you are in the UK, the differences can be huge and most people would compare small areas, rather than a whole country.
Even in Germany, different Bundesländer have different public holidays and laws can change too, just like the UK.
It's never really the country that makes people happy, but the location and how they personally can live in that country.
Last edited by Moses2013; Apr 18th 2018 at 12:55 pm.
#47
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
There is not doubt about it....it is something that belongs in Victorian times and is crap, no other word for it. However as JSmith said.....it could be even worse! it could be the states!
I think you have to try and find a way whereyou can personally work around it.......I have come to the conclusion in that as long as the company allows me to book unpaid time off, then I budget that into the salary offered and approach it that way.
So 2 weeks paid entitlement, and another 2 weeks unpaid, which if I can financially distribute over the year, I can get by with that fine. Vacation is more important to me than money.
The issue arises with me when the company won't let you take unpaid leave or bank time in lieu. Now I find that would be a real issue.
I think you have to try and find a way whereyou can personally work around it.......I have come to the conclusion in that as long as the company allows me to book unpaid time off, then I budget that into the salary offered and approach it that way.
So 2 weeks paid entitlement, and another 2 weeks unpaid, which if I can financially distribute over the year, I can get by with that fine. Vacation is more important to me than money.
The issue arises with me when the company won't let you take unpaid leave or bank time in lieu. Now I find that would be a real issue.
#48
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,148
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
So 2 weeks paid entitlement, and another 2 weeks unpaid, which if I can financially distribute over the year, I can get by with that fine. Vacation is more important to me than money.
The issue arises with me when the company won't let you take unpaid leave or bank time in lieu. Now I find that would be a real issue.
The issue arises with me when the company won't let you take unpaid leave or bank time in lieu. Now I find that would be a real issue.
Vacation can be very stressful. What I find far more important are working hours, flexibility and time you actually have during week to do things.
If you have bad working hours and a long commute, even 4 weeks paid holiday suck. I want to enjoy a beer in the garden after work, rather than just looking forward to holidays all the time.
#49
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
I agree with the sentiment that vacation entitlement sucks here. However, even as a "lowly young'in," both of the employers i've had have had no issue with me taking unpaid leave for as long as I wish. Although the prevailing attitude among most people my age is they feel that since they are so young and lucky to have the job etc they don't feel they are entitled to ask for vacation. We're trying to plan a family reunion in the summer time and one of my cousins is too afraid to ask his employer for even 5 days off to attend...meanwhile I had no issue requesting a full 2 weeks.
In my field (IT) it's rare that one stays with an employer for a long time, as advancement opportunities within the same company are pretty rare. So if I want to move from helpdesk to desktop support tech, and from there to junior network admin, then full sysadmin, etc, the fastest way to get it (and a substantial pay increase) is to change jobs. So the idea of waiting around and accumulating vacation doesn't really work for my career.
Given my positive experiences with current employers I wouldn't really want to work for someone that was going to take me round the bend over taking 2 weeks off for a vacation.
In my field (IT) it's rare that one stays with an employer for a long time, as advancement opportunities within the same company are pretty rare. So if I want to move from helpdesk to desktop support tech, and from there to junior network admin, then full sysadmin, etc, the fastest way to get it (and a substantial pay increase) is to change jobs. So the idea of waiting around and accumulating vacation doesn't really work for my career.
Given my positive experiences with current employers I wouldn't really want to work for someone that was going to take me round the bend over taking 2 weeks off for a vacation.
Last edited by Gozit; Apr 18th 2018 at 3:38 pm.
#50
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
Just wondering...my stepdaughter works retail and there are times when it appears they move heaven and earth to spread the hours around so nobody meets the threshold.
She's had no problem at all taking a few weeks off accompanying her mum to Montreal when her grandfather was ill and then died, nor similarly when her mum died (3 years ago tomorrow ) so they don't need to work so hard to keep hours down.
#51
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
Self-employment an option for those that wish to take more vacation.
#52
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
Vacation can be very stressful. What I find far more important are working hours, flexibility and time you actually have during week to do things.
If you have bad working hours and a long commute, even 4 weeks paid holiday suck. I want to enjoy a beer in the garden after work, rather than just looking forward to holidays all the time.
If you have bad working hours and a long commute, even 4 weeks paid holiday suck. I want to enjoy a beer in the garden after work, rather than just looking forward to holidays all the time.
Now I have 3 weeks vacation and enjoy every damn day (except right now, as its Spring and I hate spring in NS)
#56
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
I completely agree. I take less vacation now that I am self-employed and, clearly, there is a correlation between my income and the vacation that I take.
#57
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
One thing that's concerning us about life in Canada is the two weeks holiday. Compared to other countries, Canada has a very low annual leave, 2 weeks being the norm, along with a small handful of public holidays. This leave appears to only be applied AFTER you have worked for a year.
Or unemployment
#59
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 175
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
I think you have to try and find a way whereyou can personally work around it.......I have come to the conclusion in that as long as the company allows me to book unpaid time off, then I budget that into the salary offered and approach it that way.
So 2 weeks paid entitlement, and another 2 weeks unpaid, which if I can financially distribute over the year, I can get by with that fine. Vacation is more important to me than money.
So 2 weeks paid entitlement, and another 2 weeks unpaid, which if I can financially distribute over the year, I can get by with that fine. Vacation is more important to me than money.
Like all of life's big decisions we need to weigh up the pros and cons.
For the record, I am in NO WAY trying to put Canada down, it's my first choice country but I am not going to venture blindly into such a big life change. I appreciate people pointing out the good, the bad and..well, even the ugly!
#60
Re: Work/life balance with only two weeks holiday
That's pretty much what my husband said, he may look at it from that point of view if he ever gets to the negotiation stage The concern seems to be shifting to me as I probably won't be able to negotiate anything going back into the workforce after 20 years out.
Like all of life's big decisions we need to weigh up the pros and cons.
For the record, I am in NO WAY trying to put Canada down, it's my first choice country but I am not going to venture blindly into such a big life change. I appreciate people pointing out the good, the bad and..well, even the ugly!
Like all of life's big decisions we need to weigh up the pros and cons.
For the record, I am in NO WAY trying to put Canada down, it's my first choice country but I am not going to venture blindly into such a big life change. I appreciate people pointing out the good, the bad and..well, even the ugly!