Comments on: Do you use all your vacation time?

By: Revanche

Revanche — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:38:40 +0000

I think that’s funny that some places pay out for sick vs. vacation time. It soon just becomes a small matter of accounting, more than anything, I think.

By: funny

funny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:18:27 +0000

@ Revanche: I’ve been incredibly lucky that my health has held up well over the past years. Since retiring state workers get paid for unused vacation time, it’s counterproductive to use that instead of vacation time. In fact, In the past I’ve used vacation time when I was sick, so as not to squander the $15/hour future payout on the sick leave.

By: Revanche

Revanche — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:07:40 +0000

Late to the game here, but I always kept track of my vacation time knowing how much the company would pay out, and would schedule time off accordingly. Because of legitimate medical issues, I usually managed to save my vacation time while still having plenty of days off. The trade off was I had to spend part of that day at the doctor’s, but I had to do that anyway. Win-win, and the payout by the time of the layoff was *fantastic*.

By: funny

funny — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:32:02 +0000

@ fetu: In general, that’s true. Certainly GDU will go on without me or any of my staff, though it will be somewhat diminished in the absence of the innovative service we were developed to provide. However, when I walk out the door all work by my office will stop, including the project we’re now trying to finish for the best of our editors. I really don’t want to leave him hanging in the breeze, especially since he’s not associated with GDU: he’s on the faculty of a different university.

By: fetu

fetu — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:15:55 +0000

If you died tomorrow the company would go on without you. If the company is going broke….you will be laid off. Think of yourself first and take the vacations for goodness sake! If you do not want to travel have a rest at home. By the way….if you have no money but do want to travel check out hostel traveling…..it is not just for the young backpackers either.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:11:15 +0000

I am an elementary school counselor so my vacation time is my summers. I have an allotted amount of sick days each year and they almost always get used…sick wife..kids…me….I am blessed to have my summers.

By: funny

funny — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:41:43 +0000

@ Kaye: LOL!!! Sometimes it seems that way to me, too, until I realize the dog spends most of her time chasing balls, strolling around the block socializing with small children and swooning for cats, and sleeping.

Soon, though, the worst of the work will be over, and since the government forbids “early” (snark!) retirees to make a living wage, I’ll be looking at a year-long vacation. Comparatively, anyway.

By: Kaye

Kaye — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:09:14 +0000

Funny, when you wrote, “…I may not be laboring with all my energy now” I had to wonder because after reading your blogs, it seems to me you work like a dog! Sometimes I am exhausted (yet amused) just reading your schedule.

By: Carol

Carol — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:18:24 +0000

I’m with you on most of your reasons not to travel: hate airplanes, have to make arrangements for the dog and cat, don’t want to pay to stay in a hotel, would rather cook than eat out (even with friends), etc. And I like my house just fine most of the time. I take just enough days off to make sure I don’t lose any vacation time.

By: funny

funny — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:11:32 +0000

@ Shelley: Well said!! That’s kind of how I feel about Creative Malingering: I may not be laboring with all my energy now, but it makes up for the many years of underpaid exploitation. I put in too many 12-, 15-, and even 18-hour days with no overtime, six and seven days a week, for too darned many years, to feel guilty about reducing the number of hours I actually work now.