Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
Oct 23rd 2013, 2:57 pm
#31
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
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!
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:30 pm
#32
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,473
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
My wife had very much the same deal as the OP. What type of job is it? I know retail can be particularly tough when it comes to vacation time in the US.
Can't believe my luck with the job I'm at now, 24 days a year, plus 8 national holidays - for which Black Friday counts as one
- as well as two days floating holiday. I have no idea what a floating holiday is, but I've used both.
Can't believe my luck with the job I'm at now, 24 days a year, plus 8 national holidays - for which Black Friday counts as one
- as well as two days floating holiday. I have no idea what a floating holiday is, but I've used both.
BTW I now get 28 days, plus 8 holidays.
That includes most of the days that the banks get, but not all, and no black Friday.
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:37 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Rochester, New York
Posts: 1,125
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
I think a floating holiday holiday is when a holiday, such as Christmas or 4th July falls on a Saturday you can take it at another time of your choosing. At least that is what my employer calls a floating holiday.
BTW I now get 28 days, plus 8 holidays. That includes most of the days that the banks get, but not all, and no black Friday.
BTW I now get 28 days, plus 8 holidays.
That includes most of the days that the banks get, but not all, and no black Friday.
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:39 pm
#34
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
A floating holiday is a day off that one does not have to take on the specified holiday. The day off can be taken whenever the employee likes (and the employer can spare them), like a vacation day. Think of it as a vacation day, rather than a holiday.
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:40 pm
#35
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
The one upside to the fact that I get 15 fewer vacation days though, is that I now tend to take fewer 'mental health' days off (I used to book full weeks off just so I could go piss it up and play Championship Manager or GTA non stop when I was in the silly service) and actually use my days more productively, like for actual vacations 
It also has the knock on effect that I don't end up using all my days up with four months to go before the reset, like I used to do when I got 25 ...
It also has the knock on effect that I don't end up using all my days up with four months to go before the reset, like I used to do when I got 25 ...
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:43 pm
#36
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
At any place I've ever worked, if a holiday falls on a Saturday the day off is given on the Friday before. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the day off is given on the Monday after.
If you are allowed to take such weekend holidays whenever you want, that would be a floating holiday - for that one time only.
Regards, JEff
If you are allowed to take such weekend holidays whenever you want, that would be a floating holiday - for that one time only.
Regards, JEff
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:43 pm
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Posts: 551
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
Yes, this is exactly as I have used them, but why not just say I have 26 vacation days rather than 24 plus two floating holidays?
Oct 23rd 2013, 3:56 pm
#38
Member
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
The floating holidays were originally fixed holidays, until employee grumpiness over being forced to celebrate a holiday that was meaningless to them convinced enlightened employers to be more flexible. Easier to change just the holiday policy than both the holiday and vacation policies?
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
Oct 23rd 2013, 4:03 pm
#39
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2013
Location: Tampa Bay, Florida
Posts: 551
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
Ah, gotcha! Thanks!
Oct 23rd 2013, 5:30 pm
#40
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
I know that sounds bad to most US people, but what can you do when an employer violates their own terms that egregiously? My husband did get hired for a job that he thought was perfect... not great pay, but just what he wanted as far as a start in the field he wanted to work in. Within three weeks after he started, they had managed to change the days he worked, the shift he was assigned to, the number of hours per week, the job location, the job duties, his job title, his pay rate, and his supervisor (twice); they messed up the payroll so he didn't even get paid on time and when they finally paid him it was with a debit card instead of direct deposit; finally, they gave him problems over a Workers' Compensation claim (he was cut on broken glass another employee didn't clean up). After he quit, with my blessing and backing, one of my friends attempted to smear him as a deadbeat for not sticking with it. Excuse me?
Oct 23rd 2013, 6:21 pm
#41
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: WA state
Posts: 3,062
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
My vacation time sounds worse than it is. 10 days, rising eventually up to 20 after 10 years. But that ignores the 5-6 days everyone gets at xmas, in addition to the 6-8 holidays during the year.
Oct 23rd 2013, 7:08 pm
#42
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Location: Greenwich, CT
Posts: 132
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
The one upside to the fact that I get 15 fewer vacation days though, is that I now tend to take fewer 'mental health' days off (I used to book full weeks off just so I could go piss it up and play Championship Manager or GTA non stop when I was in the silly service) and actually use my days more productively, like for actual vacations
It also has the knock on effect that I don't end up using all my days up with four months to go before the reset, like I used to do when I got 25 ...
It also has the knock on effect that I don't end up using all my days up with four months to go before the reset, like I used to do when I got 25 ...
Brings back memories of working for a County Council. Had to have every Friday off from October because I had forgotten to take all my days, and they wouldn't pay them instead. Finding something to do when all your friends are working isn't as much fun as making the most of a 3 day weekend!
Oct 23rd 2013, 7:14 pm
#43
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
Brings back memories of working for a County Council. Had to have every Friday off from October because I had forgotten to take all my days, and they wouldn't pay them instead. Finding something to do when all your friends are working isn't as much fun as making the most of a 3 day weekend!
Oct 23rd 2013, 9:07 pm
#44
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 2,554
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
So it sounds like I'm getting the crap end of the stick, but it could be worse. Like a previous poster, 30+ days a year in the UK has left me somewhat spoilt. Finding this out plus turning 40 today has just left me feeling a bit crap. I wonder if this is my brain trying to tell me I'm a little homesick.
Oct 23rd 2013, 9:28 pm
#45
Often not so civil...
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: The Boonies, GA
Posts: 9,561
Re: Is this normal, or have I just landed a crap job?
As a former Civil Servant, I got 25 days a year, plus 6.5 days per quater flexi-time (if earned) and 14 days sick leave. I worked out if I took everything to the maximum I could have nearly half the work year off.
I've just started in a hospital in a low level Janitor-type position, and earn roughly 6 hours PTO (Paid Time Off) every 2 weeks, this covers any and all absences. Works out at around 22 days a year and for a first job in the US I think that's remarkable.
I've just started in a hospital in a low level Janitor-type position, and earn roughly 6 hours PTO (Paid Time Off) every 2 weeks, this covers any and all absences. Works out at around 22 days a year and for a first job in the US I think that's remarkable.