Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Apr 12th 2012, 2:57 pm
#1
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Location: Charleston, SC - Previously Edinburgh
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Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Hi there,
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
Apr 12th 2012, 2:59 pm
#2
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Hi there,
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
Apr 12th 2012, 3:20 pm
#3
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Hi there,
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
Just wondering, how did you adjust to the lack of paid leave? I've now lived in the UK for 10 years and love it (I am a dual UK/USA citizen). Lately though, I've considered a move back to the USA - when starting to look at jobs and then drilling down a bit further to see what the vacation time is, well, my stomach sinks. I knew it was bad, but somehow looking at it just drives it home for me.
So how did you adjust (or does your company offer more than the standard 2 weeks)? Does the nice weather and space of your house help? Is it that people pretty much leave work on time? Does your company offer extra 'personal' days?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Jennifer
I'm into my sixth year and I still haven't adjusted to it, to be honest. There isn't anything that makes up for it for me but I don't want to be here anymore anyway so I'm not very objective about that right now.
Apr 12th 2012, 3:25 pm
#4
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Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
My company gives me two weeks at the moment but only due to my four years with them. For year one I got none and then I got one week until my four year anniversary. I get three personal and three sick days in addition.
I'm into my sixth year and I still haven't adjusted to it, to be honest. There isn't anything that makes up for it for me but I don't want to be here anymore anyway so I'm not very objective about that right now.
I'm into my sixth year and I still haven't adjusted to it, to be honest. There isn't anything that makes up for it for me but I don't want to be here anymore anyway so I'm not very objective about that right now.
Wow, that really sucks!!I'm fortunate in that I negotiated UK holidays but my American employees only get 2 weeks (which I feel bad about although I did tell them in the interview that holiday may be negotiable and they didn't negotiate...)
Some of the bigger European/RoW companies will offer longer holidays and even some of the US ones will too - worth looking around, especially in industries where there's a high demand right now. (I'm in O&G and demand here is very high right now, you can ask for practically anything...
)
Apr 12th 2012, 3:28 pm
#5
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
NONE??!! Wow, that really sucks!!
I'm fortunate in that I negotiated UK holidays but my American employees only get 2 weeks (which I feel bad about although I did tell them in the interview that holiday may be negotiable and they didn't negotiate...)
Some of the bigger European/RoW companies will offer longer holidays and even some of the US ones will too - worth looking around, especially in industries where there's a high demand right now. (I'm in O&G and demand here is very high right now, you can ask for practically anything...)
Wow, that really sucks!!I'm fortunate in that I negotiated UK holidays but my American employees only get 2 weeks (which I feel bad about although I did tell them in the interview that holiday may be negotiable and they didn't negotiate...)
Some of the bigger European/RoW companies will offer longer holidays and even some of the US ones will too - worth looking around, especially in industries where there's a high demand right now. (I'm in O&G and demand here is very high right now, you can ask for practically anything...
)
Apr 12th 2012, 3:38 pm
#7
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Joined: Apr 2005
Location: St Ives to So. Cal.
Posts: 258
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
I get 3 weeks a year ... that's sick & vacation though. When I first started with this Co. we used to get a week off at Christmas, so essentially 4 weeks a year, but as we've grown, that week has now disappeared. Fortunately, my boss is OK with me taking unpaid time off, which I do frequently 
Apr 12th 2012, 3:44 pm
#8
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Hubby negotiated to keep his 5 weeks when we moved over here. What I don't know is how I will cope if I go back to work and get a couple of weeks while he still has 5!!!
When we told our US friends we were going to Hawaii for 18 days their jaws dropped - they couldn't fathom going on holiday for that long!
When we told our US friends we were going to Hawaii for 18 days their jaws dropped - they couldn't fathom going on holiday for that long!
Apr 12th 2012, 3:47 pm
#9
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Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Apr 12th 2012, 3:50 pm
#10
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Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
My husband's company offer 4 wks holiday for everyone, it's a US company too! He does however work a lot longer days when on customer sites, but he is away from home for this so it doesn't matter so much (to me anyway 
). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great 
although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.
He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!
). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!
Apr 12th 2012, 4:02 pm
#11
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Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
My husband's company offer 4 wks holiday for everyone, it's a US company too! He does however work a lot longer days when on customer sites, but he is away from home for this so it doesn't matter so much (to me anyway ). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.
He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!
). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!
Fortunately I get to delegate most of those jobs these days
Do any of you find that you don't ever really get to switch off though? I'm expected to answer my emails and calls even when I'm on holiday
Apr 12th 2012, 4:04 pm
#12
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Apr 12th 2012, 4:04 pm
#13
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Charleston, SC - Previously Edinburgh
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Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Thanks all for your replies. I would stay in Edinburgh forever if the weather did not get me so down...but, no decisions yet, just thinking about a lot of things - including buying a holiday property in a warmer part of Europe.
My family is in the USA...so will always have a tie there and as I get older, I think about it more and more...I've really adjusted to the culture over here however and feel way out of sorts for the first few days when back in the USA.
If any of you who have found companies that seem to be more generous than others - please shout them out so that I can look into them.
Thanks so much.
J
I would stay in Edinburgh forever if the weather did not get me so down...but, no decisions yet, just thinking about a lot of things - including buying a holiday property in a warmer part of Europe. My family is in the USA...so will always have a tie there and as I get older, I think about it more and more...I've really adjusted to the culture over here however and feel way out of sorts for the first few days when back in the USA.
If any of you who have found companies that seem to be more generous than others - please shout them out so that I can look into them.
Thanks so much.
J
Apr 12th 2012, 4:08 pm
#14
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Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,543
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
Yeah I get 4 weeks plus Christmas but like your husband when I'm offsite i'm on 72 or 84 hour weeks, sometimes more.
Fortunately I get to delegate most of those jobs these days
Do any of you find that you don't ever really get to switch off though? I'm expected to answer my emails and calls even when I'm on holiday
Fortunately I get to delegate most of those jobs these days
Do any of you find that you don't ever really get to switch off though? I'm expected to answer my emails and calls even when I'm on holiday
Apr 12th 2012, 4:09 pm
#15
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Charleston, SC - Previously Edinburgh
Posts: 264
Re: Lack of holiday - how did you adjust?
My husband's company offer 4 wks holiday for everyone, it's a US company too! He does however work a lot longer days when on customer sites, but he is away from home for this so it doesn't matter so much (to me anyway ). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.
He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!
). When he is not on a customer site he works from home, which is great although sometimes he has to work later to cover the different time zones.He took less time off in the UK, so it's a bonus to us!