March 2, 2015 at 8:19 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Holidays as Benefits
March 3, 2015 at 12:07 am
Here in the UK we have a very healthy amount of paid leave (in general - there are always exceptions). There is a slow trend towards less forced holidays, however, there are still some hangovers in place e.g. in Stoke-on-Trent many employers in various industries still close for Potters' week even though they have nothing to do with the pottery industry:
In times gone by the forced week close down was to allow for the shutting down, repair and restarting of the kilns used for firing the pottery. During this week almost everything closed and people took that week to holiday by the seaside, visit relatives or just stay at home.
Some places are looking for a more 24/7 feel of coverage even though sometimes this is more like Monday-Friday during office hours regardless of the day e.g. working over Christmas as worldwide customers will more readily accept a working day being in a different time zone than an arbitrary celebration day (they may understand and accept other people celebrating it but not why it totally shuts down an internationally trading firm).
For me working freelance, public holidays are days I am usually forced to take off (unpaid or catered for in my standard daily rate - its only a question of perspective). My family appreciate it (sometimes) and I do need it to recharge a little more every now and again.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
March 3, 2015 at 1:29 am
In Sweden, the legal minimum is 25 days of fully paid vacation, but many have 30 or more paid days off. All countries in the European Union have at least 20 days paid leave per year.
I wouldn't mind having more, particularly when the kids were younger it could be a stretch to have an adult home with them. They have 10 weeks off in the summer, 1 week during fall, 2-3 weeks during Christmas and New Year, 1 week in March and 1 week during Easter. All in all some 15 weeks off, so with two parents at 6 weeks each we're still 3 weeks short, and that leaves us with no overlap. Thank heavens for grand parents!
March 3, 2015 at 2:26 am
It is *the* one reason why I wouldn't go to the USA. Like Gary pointed out the UK has 8 days bank holiday, typical 25 days paid leave, various companies have added days due to length of service, or flexi-time etc etc 😛 . Of course dont always get the same pay as the USA but cant have everything.
Even then with all of these days there are times when I feel as if I need more to recharge, de-stress etc.
March 3, 2015 at 2:54 am
Rune Bivrin (3/3/2015)
<snip>All countries in the European Union have at least 20 days paid leave per year.
<snip>!
Currently (with extra for long service) I have 27 days per year. Due to not taking all my leave last year, I am up to the company maximum of 30 days. So far this year, I have also accrued an additional 5 days for time off in lieu for weekend and evening work as I don't get paid overtime.
Under the company rules, carried over leave and time off in lieu is decreased before annual entitlement is decreased and carried over leave has to be taken in the first quarter.
I strongly suspect that come the end of the holiday year I will be in the same position that I am in most years; losing leave as I have run out of year to take it in - not that I am complaining
Oh yes and there are the 10 or so public holidays to be taken too.
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March 3, 2015 at 3:03 am
From the editorial :
"A team I work with now has converted four holidays to floating personal days – essentially vacation – and removing four minor holidays from the holiday schedule"
This is interesting, and I can see benefits both ways. Rolled up into normal annual leave it allows the days to be taken as a block, which gives more of a break and would allow you get away somewhere (e.g. a city break).
However, those holidays that are fixed in the calendar have a good social role to play as it makes it much easier to arrange to get people together when the majority of people are given the same day off.
March 3, 2015 at 4:15 am
RP1966 (3/3/2015)
...However, those holidays that are fixed in the calendar have a good social role to play as it makes it much easier to arrange to get people together when the majority of people are given the same day off.
Totally understand, however, anyone who has to work shifts that cover 24/7 (doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers, armed forces and many more besides) do not fit into this.
I find that since the removal of the majority of restrictions on Sundays (e.g. shopping) were introduced in the UK that it is difficult to get a group together anyway.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
March 3, 2015 at 5:13 am
There's never enough holiday - even if you can find time to take it!
I grew up with Potters fortnight as our local holiday and then there's Wakes weeks and "Barnaby" - the Macclesfield equivalent named for St Barnabas day which fell during the holiday. All good northern English traditions from the days of flat caps, smog & grime, cloth mills and coal mines.
Seriously though flexitime and a decent amount of holiday are very important to me which is why I've stayed in a lower paid but close to home job so long.
Also this year we have had one and a half shutdown days removed and added to personal holiday allowance. Since they aren't Bank Holidays nobody minded as we don't lose out and the business is working. Many colleagues are currently taking time off to get their remaining leave down to the allowed carry over by April - I don't have that problem!
March 3, 2015 at 5:33 am
P Jones (3/3/2015)
...I grew up with Potters fortnight...
I stand corrected. I didn't grow up in the area. I just arrived in my 20s, stole a local lass and stayed 😉
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
March 3, 2015 at 5:47 am
When I first got into consulting in 1995 I went hourly for the first time in 29 years of work. The company I went with Analysts International had three pay structures: Hourly, Project Based and Salaried. I discussed with my recruiter the differences and equivalencies. He indicated the Salaried consultant received less based on the expected number of hours and a flat load value of X percent for the company. The load value paid the salaries of office personnel and office costs. It also paid for the benefits the consultant would receive. The expected number of hours broke down to this:
Billable Work -- 232 days or 1856 hours
Paid Time Off -- 15 days or 160 hours
Holidays -- 8 days or 64 Hours
This gave me a planning process that has served me well over the past 20 years. Some years I take more days off and some fewer. Some companies have 10 holidays; I never complain about it as I have built my salary plan around numbers above. As a consultant I have the freedom to work as necessary and I am content with my work situation.
March 3, 2015 at 7:57 am
I have no special attachment to holidays. I'm more than willing to work a holiday and take a different day off.
I've worked with my current employer a long time and am entitled to quite a few vacation days, but personal circumstances and family issues prevent me from doing that much exciting with those days.
...
-- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --
March 3, 2015 at 8:39 am
I've never been in a position where I felt it appropriate to ask about holidays during an interview. I didn't want them to get the impression that all I thought about was my time off. I wanted them to consider me one who was focused on work.
March 3, 2015 at 8:52 am
Iwas Bornready (3/3/2015)
I've never been in a position where I felt it appropriate to ask about holidays during an interview. I didn't want them to get the impression that all I thought about was my time off. I wanted them to consider me one who was focused on work.
Interesting point. Asking about vacation is not uncommon, asking about holidays is a bit different somehow.
...
-- FORTRAN manual for Xerox Computers --
March 3, 2015 at 9:47 am
We were just talking about the stinginess of employers in the US compared to others. And in a small company it can be even worse. For the first nine years at my company we get 10 days. That is supposed to cover vacation and sick days. Tough when you have kids - you have to leave them home alone, as I am doing today. You go to work sick, too. After 9 years we get another 5 days. Holidays are the bare minimum - and some have to work them. One year Christmas was on the weekend, and we didn't even get a Friday or Monday off. I was amazed.....
March 3, 2015 at 9:51 am
jay-h (3/3/2015)
Iwas Bornready (3/3/2015)
I've never been in a position where I felt it appropriate to ask about holidays during an interview. I didn't want them to get the impression that all I thought about was my time off. I wanted them to consider me one who was focused on work.Interesting point. Asking about vacation is not uncommon, asking about holidays is a bit different somehow.
My understanding is that:
UK holidays = US vacation
UK public holidays = US public holidays
public holidays = holidays
So perhaps "holidays" is ambiguous here.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
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