BootsnAll Travel Community

The WSJ has an article today about taking off time to travel.

Taking Time Off to Travel
March 7, 2007


I am not going to include the article because of copyright reasons, but if you are interested in reading it and cannot, PM me. It talks about how 20somethings are finding taking time off from work to travel a good decision, and how it helps develop your skills and career. Interesting!

And it mentions the sad fact that most Americans in their first two years of work get 10-15 days vacation.

I'll have to check it out.

But, on the "sad fact," I think the sad fact is that vacation time is not mandatory, so, companies don't need to offer it at all. I think what's sadder is that most people don't use all their vacation time because it is hard to come back to work after a vacation (like 200+ emails hard).

I have been in the work force for 7+ years and get 3 weeks (15 days). While more would be nice, I don't even have time to use all those days. Instead of focusing on how little time that is, I focus on making the most of the days I can take off. (and did quit my job when I was younger to travel, as well, which I think helped take the edge off).

I agree with Annie - while the US standard of paid vacation is appalling low compared to other countries, it is much more disturbing that most people are unable/unwilling to actually fully utilize the time off they are given. There is also a double standard in place - many companies and industries that actually do traditionally give more time off seem to indirectly penalize people for utilizing the time. That is, if you're working in a client-facing/charging organization, and you take off for 2 or more weeks, one is likely to be slapped with additional assignments/projects on top of the work that has since piled up upon return (i.e., the mentality seems to be: "this person clearly has available time on their hands if they're taking a vacation - they need more work"). I also find it rather ludicrous that in these same organizations where 4-5 weeks of vacation is standard (including institutions of higher education), one is looked askance at if one wanted to take more than, say, 5 business days off at a time. Gone are the 3- or- more week "extended" travel periods abroad... long weekends away seem to be the norm - functional for a beach or ski trip, but not nearly enough to fully recharge and gain insight into a different culture. I much prefer the European mentality that pretty much agrees to collectively go on holiday for the entire month of August.

Although i cannot claim to know what the rest of corporate america does with such few vacation days, i must admit i am blessed...teaching gives me plenty of time to wander the world...and even though this summer will be my first trip, i feel that bug, and have a feeling i am now cursed forever! oh well, things can be worse right?

I'm lucky to have as much vacation time at my work as I do. I asked for the time off for my trip and it was approved immediately. Only thing they wanted in return was some cool postcards.

I've felt lucky in my two jobs since college. I started off right away with 3 weeks time off at my first company, and then 4 weeks off at my second company. I've known quite a few people that start off with 2 weeks, and have to work several years to earn more.

I dont work in corporate america, Im in healthcare. I was granted 4 weeks off to goto europe. But I did not inform anyone of my plans, I only requested the time off. My supervisor said "I deserve it". Too many people have the misconception that europe is VERY expensive. But these are mostly babyboomers who arent internet savvy. But actually, my initial plan was to leave my job, and try to travel for several months. But now that my time-off has been approved, I think Ill come back and work a few more weeks (get a couple more paychecks under my belt) and THEN leave.

Its great to be single with no kids.

I work for a consulting firm with just over 4 weeks of paid time off. Although I think if you want to use it all in one big chunk you'd need to get some special permission. Working at a private university yielded the best time off policy I've experienced, where I had 4 weeks vacation, in addition to university holidays, and unlimited sick days. This is basically just one little step below being a student (ahh... those awesome student days)... with 5 weeks of winter break, a spring break, the entire summer and assorted holidays in between! I have heard that many companies are good about granting unpaid leave of absences... however I think this kind of thing is very subject to a case-by-case basis/your value/irreplacibility to the place and so on. I also think that it's probably better to go into this type of negotiation with your priorities firmly settled and some thought put into your strategy. That way you'll always have the upper hand, regardless of the reaction you initially may get.

quote:

Originally posted by NYCAmy:
in addition to university holidays, and unlimited sick days.

How does that work? Do you need a doctor's note or do you just need to come back to work sniffling?

A lot of companies do unlimited sick days. The theory is...when you have a finite number of sick days, people feel compelled to take them, lest they "lose out." By not defining them, it has been found that people are less likely to use them unless they are really sick. Also, people will be less likely to use them in place of vacation days. (when there is a finite, people might take those instead since vacation days carry over)

In my experience (with myself), this is true.

That's interesting.

Although I bet if you wanted to use 30 sick days in a row, you might find out they're not so unlimited.

Oh, no, after X amount of days, you have to have a note. And I believe after 7 sick days, you have to go on short term disability.

I'm blessed with lots of vacation time, and don't feel guilty about how much time I can leave for because I've been at my job for over 20 years.

My employer is fairly used to my one month vacation in March or April of each year and then my 3 weeks I take in September or October. Then I take a week or two during the summer time.

But I know too well the 500+ emails I will come back to. Now I give my work partner access to my account and he deletes all the crap ones and I only come back to those that are important.

quote:

Too many people have the misconception that europe is VERY expensive. But these are mostly babyboomers who arent internet savvy.

Europe is very expensive! I'm a boomer (47) and Iv'e been internet/travel guide researching a trip to Europe for months now for myself and 3 kids and just can't believe how expensive it is. And I'm talking staying in hostels, using local rail/eurail/busses, eating cheap/few restaurants, etc. The combination of the weak U.S. dollar and the expensiveness of W. Europe in general is probably going to prohibit a trip for us.

For years, people have thought Europe is very expensive. This "fact" ebbs and flows depending on the strength of the dollar. A few years ago, it was very cheap.

I believe people just think travelling is inherently expensive. And it isn't necessarily.

Bigmaude, no matter how you slice it, travelling for 4 is going to be more pricey than one person trying to get around. You may want to check out South America...a little goes a long way there, and places like Argentina are very traveler-friendly (I saw lots of families when I was there).

Annie, I wish I had the desire to visit S. America but I just don't and never have. I have no idea why either. I suppose I could give it a shot. Right now, I'm thinking the Caribbean but I really wanted to go to Europe! Iv'e always wanted to see Europe, every inch of it. I am very dissapointed at this point, but have not completely given up yet on the dream. Thanks your your advice, I will check into it. Happy Trails

BM

slightly off topic, but...

I have 21 total vacation/personal/floating holiday days to use, and i just booked my trip to Argentina/Uruguay this morning (can barely contain myself! ) Between that, my paris/prague grad school trip, and a long weekend in puerto rico, I've used exactly 20 days.

My boss is like "you're cutting it kind of close.. " but i think i'm planning marvelously! Every single day off i'll be in another country! Much more fun that colleagues who take off to sit at home and 'rest'

Another similar and interesting article on this topic on WSJ's Career Journal today... specifically how young workers are not maxing out their (typically paltry 14-day) vacation days largely due to implicit example-setting from bosses who are workaholics. Since when has "I haven't taken a vacation in x year(s)" become a badge of honor? this country's corporate culture needs to seriously reprioritize.

For Young Workers, Taking Time Off Can Be Stressful

I agree NYCAmy. This country needs to take a closer look at this sort of thing... why are we so fat.. oh yeah we work too much and are too lazy to cook good meals instead of fast food... why do we have so many heart conditions... well the stress isn't helping. I posted on another thread about a book I read "Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be wrong" and seriously I love the back -

"The French Smoke, drink and eat more fat than anyone in the world, yet live longer and have fewer heart problems than Americans. They work 35-hour weeks, and take seven weeks of paid holidays per year, but are still the world's 4th biggest economic power"

Brian knows someone who is from the France office working in the NY office (where he interns)... she gets 7 weeks vacation since she is still tied to the Europe office, but says she feels like she can't take any of it bc of the work life in the states. Just sad really.

Well, that is why I know longer work in corporate America. I do seasonal work. Such as fish processing, hostel work, fishing, or some type of work within a lodge or park. Many people, including my brother in law think that I don't make much money, Because I don't have a car permanent home, or rolex. I made can and have made about $45,000 a year working about eight months out of the year. Now this is actually a lot more as in most of the jobs all food and lodging is paid for. I get free airfare and my clothes are washed for me. I am on vacation anywhere from 3 to 4 months out of the year. I know how to relax. My younger co-workers have to be right on to the next job or season. Get laid back folks and take those vacation days.