markonline1

So, I knew that the yanks don't get anywhere near the leave entitlement us socialists do back home. However, after not getting paid for a day I took off, I fired an email to HR. I was sent back the companies leave policy, and basically, no paid time off for first 6 months, the accrue 3 something hours per month up to a maximum of 5 days in the first 2 years, then 6 something hours per month up to a maximum of 10 days after 2 years. After 6 years, I can accrue up to 15 days. By my poor maths, that means a wait of 3 years before I can take 2 weeks off unless I build up my leave from my first 2 years. Is this pretty standard? I know it's bad out here, but this feels like slavery. I felt pretty lucky to land a job ou here fairly quickly. I can take the 60% drop in pay from why I was earning in the UK as my wife is quite well paid, but as someone that intends to try and get home once a year, not sure I can stomach the terrible vacation time!

kimilseung

Even for America that seems crappy.

markonline1

That's what I thought. I can handle crap pay if the leave entitlement is ok. I'm not settling for crap pay and crap leave entitlement. Time to start job hunting then!

Adnams

Entitlements in the US are pretty shite. As are general employee rights. It always comes as a wake up call to realise that.

Trixie_b

That is pretty pi55poor, but being as America has no paid vacation as a statutory given, getting any vacation time is a bonus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annual_...utory_Vacation

What HOLIDAY entitlement do you get? (note that Holiday is specifically public holiday, and Vacation describes annual leave)

TimNiceBut

5 days seems to be very stingy. Any sick time on top of that or is that it?

BTW, check if you can carry over vacation days or not. Not all employers allow you to do that and even if you can you often have to take them in the first quarter of the following year. If you don't, you just donated them to your employer.

markonline1

Erm, not sure about holiday time. I don't get holidays off as it's a 24/7 operation. Sick pay up to 6 days a year, but again you have to accrue it. I've been told that California state law requires employers to carry over leave, not that will ever affect me LOL

TimNiceBut

Yeah, that very much sounds like job search time to me.

Mind you, you probably don't want to explain to prospective employers that you're looking because of the vacation entitlement. That's going to fly very lead duck wise.

TimNiceBut

According to 4., you should be able to carry over the vacation:

http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_vacation.htm

Bob

Seems some what standard.

Some places are worse, some better.

Pulaski

Historically, that sounds fairly typical, but many places do a lot better than that these days. I'd be keeping an eye open for another opportunity.

Giantaxe

In CA they can however impose a reasonable limit on what you can accrue and/or pay you for unused vacation at year end. I would be loath to take a job that did the latter, especially as so many places provide a crap number of vacation days to begin with.

md95065

It's within the range of "normal" but definitely towards the crap end of the scale ...

hoffage123

I saw this and even though I haven't entered the US yet, am already starting to miss my generous leave of 33 days (not including bank holidays!) in my current job

steveq

Having been self-employed for 28 years and occasionally managing 10 days off in a year, a whole 2 weeks EVERY year will be luxury.