LooseSuits Thread: Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

rileycentral — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:39:54

It's one of those things where if you don't have them you probably don't get the topic. Sorry about that. But it is really odd when people pass on days they are allotted and would not be penalized for taking. It sounds like some people here agree with that. Thanks for the comments.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

peroty — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:35:23

I wish I had vacation days TO take. Or sick days. Being a contractor sucks like that.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

jensized — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:50:17

I don't usually take mine consecutively, instead opting to take 3- or 4-day weekends spread throughout the year. That way I don't get burned out on work and I don't get restless on vacation. But you bet every single day gets used including the sick days, personal days and floating holidays!

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

JoeLencioni — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:48:30

We can carry over a bunch of vacation days from year to year, so I have been taking some vacation from time to time while trying to build up my store of vacation days just in case. I would never ever let a vacation day go unused though... that's just crazy.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

superrats — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:10:48

I never have the time really. My boss always reminds me to schedule time off. Well, that's great, but there's never an opening in the job schedule for me to take more than 2-3 days off. I take a few long weekends, but never have taken one of those things called a vacation.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

rileycentral — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:04:17

To any people worried about missing work I say this: “Don't go mental, go on vacation!” SHEESH!

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

BIGGER — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:16:46

At our company we stress to the employees how important it is that they use the PTO they EARN. We are pretty generous with our PTO policy and probably have very few that use their entire 22 days per year, but we definitely encourage it.

I personally very rarely use more than 2 weeks per year of PTO time. But then again as the only IT guy for the office, it is very hard to take much time off, without getting phone calls.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

fuscom — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:30:42

Every industry is different, I agree. I know energy traders who, by regulation, required to take 5 consecutive days off and forbidden to have any contact w/ the company during that time.

Sure all companies have their busy season, but I think that further explains why there's the option to rollover a certain amount of days.

460M does seem like a lot on the one hand. On the flipside though, given most professional people get 2 - 3 weeks, 3 days rolled over isn't really that alarming.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

Tyme — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:15:39

@fuscom - It could depend on the industry. When I worked in the accounting field we were extremely busy January - August, October was chaotic so that only left three solid months throughout the year for vacations, two of which are busy holiday months. Everyone couldn't take off at the same time so it was common for people to "push" part of their vacation into the next year and it would dwindle down from there.

I have a friend that is an attorney and due to her caseload she missed vacation time in 2007 and things don't settle down until September when she can take some time, IF everything goes okay. She also feels hesitant to take off because she's working towards partnership.

On the flip I know people who, working hourly, want the money and will forgo the vacation time (because they can get overtime working). Especially with their mortgage rates rising.

I think taking vacation time is dependent on the person's financial situation. 460M days is a very high number though.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

Ozone42 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:38:56

I haven't taken any real vacation in a long time. I take days off here and there, but I am waaaaay overdue.

But I am a partner in my company, work from home, and my schedule is what I make it.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

fuscom — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:21:27

I'm kinda skeptical of that "3 days left on the table". Three days probably falls within most companies rollover policy. I would reason that people (especially families w/children) schedule bits of vacation time around differing schedules and thus will usually have some days leftover after all is said or done. I'd give that more credance than too stressed to leave and stay gone kind of situation.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

liza — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:06:49

I always try to use all my vacation days. If I only stay home with the family it is better than work.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

RightOn — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:40:22

I take EVERY SECOND of vacation offered to me every year. There is no way I can last a year without a break of some kind.

Stressed Americans Leave 460 Million Vacation Days Unused

Tyme — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:15:00

When I worked for someone else at first I was lazy about taking vacation days. Eventually I took a "use it or lose it" attitude and I made sure to use it. Some companies "force" their employees to take the time. One of the local hospitals here turned smoking-free completely. No smoking on the grounds period (not even in the car). Their suggestion? Deal with it, quit or use the vacation time to start a weaning process. o_O

Do you take vacation days? I tend to slide working for myself because I flex my time out or I'll save it up for something "big".