gruffbrown

There's the rub, it's 4 weeks rostered holiday, 1 week floating, but you can swap.

Hayley

Sigh! I get two weeks but it accrues based on time worked and as I negotiated Fridays off to look after my son this year I think I have 36 hours or some such crap.

gruffbrown

I can work Bank Holidays and choose double time or single time and a day off in Lieu. Is it nice in Lieu?

TruBrit

think so, can be a bit windy

jumping doris

I'd avoid the school holidays.

AmerLisa

ah yes, I remember getting 4 weeks off in the UK - although I had to delegate when I wanted to take the time off - for the whole upcoming year! Um and yes with another job, I got the same amount of time, but then had to request for it and yes it could be turned down. The only job that I had where the employer didn't question the time off as much (although I did have to clear it with him, obviously) was when I worked for an accountant. You do get the time off, but sometimes you need to jump through hoops to get it.

My husband left a job, in the UK, that gave him 6 weeks paid leave a year(his leave in the UK was negotiated when he transferred from the MoD to BT.) But, he has a job now where he has 3 weeks. While its never fantastic, we find that his leave here in the US is more than ample. But that's just us.

Dan725

Jobs I would be looking for in the UK start with 5 also - seems to be fairly common.

Its things like this that untraps you to a degree - in the land of the "Free", you usually have to be with a company 10-20 years before you get that time off. Should you move to a different company, or get downsized, you can look forward to your 2 again.

In the UK, people realise that holiday time is expected (and indeed, its the law!), so have to offer it from the get go. I believe the legal minimum is actually 4 weeks now, and it appears they are testing the water as to increasing it:

http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file30011.pdf

Partystar

Really, hmmm. I must have got lucky, started on 22 days (4 weeks & 2 day) then went up to 25 days (5 weeks) after I'd been there 5 years. It still didn't seem enough! I shall probably return to work for them when I get back, I should be able to get 25 days off automatically.

Partystar

That's the deal we got in the UK too.

Actually hubby got quite a nice deal coming up, they want him to work December 31st (a Sunday - his only day off), so they've offered everyone double pay with a day off (paid) on January 2nd, so basically triple pay! Now that's great for a US company.

TruBrit

i was meaning 3 weeks minimum requirements but it may have gone up to 4 now.

i was lucky and had 6 weeks plus, infact my job was one long holiday

happynz

I have only spent a grand total of about two-and-a-half hours in the UK. My impression is that Gatwick Airport is a bit tatty and the staff at the check-in counters appeared to be hungover and bored. Is this indicative of the UK? If so, it's my kind of place and I want to move there!

Partystar

Nice!

Partystar

Absolutely!

TruBrit

yeah it's all the holiday leave the brits have makes them hung over all the time

cindyabs

I thought the correct geographical name was in Lieu of, which is hard by East Cupcake or West Overshoe ( I can never keep those 2 straight).