Holiday / Vacation

[susan silva]

What work considerations do you have to think of when you schedule your yearly holiday / vacation time?  Does it go my seniority?  Time of year and work load?  Timing of when your boss takes off time?   Let's add the fun part of this question, do you have any fun travel plans coming up? 

[gee4]

In my company there are no restrictions.  If a PA is off, there are plenty of others to cover and book travel.  As I have said before most managers/directors are self-sufficient, answering their own emails etc. 

Travel is usually booked and signed off in advance anyway but if something urgent arises, any one of us can book travel or schedule meetings.

There is no such thing here as taking holidays "by seniority".  Most people take their leave at the same time every year but advance notice is given.

[Cozwaz]

With our staff numbers being small (under 10) we can be pretty flexible when we take time off.  The only thing I have to consider is when my MD is off as I can't and don't like being off the same time as him.

This year so far I have had a week off at the beginning of April when I went down to Somerset and spent a week with my 3 yrs old godson from Australia who had come over specially with his parents to visit me.

In July I am back down to Somerset again for a week with my twin godchildren who are 12.  It should be a good week as it will just be me, the twins and their dog and mine - so looking forward to it, lots of exciting things planned - hopefully one day we will be flying birds of prey and taking some Hawks for a walk!

Then hopefully fingers, toes and paws crossed - I am having a week off probably during October when I bring my new puppy home - well hopefully because it all depends on the mating, if I like any of the litter if it happens and if I can get the money together in time!!!

Then I will be looking forward to my usual two weeks off at Christmas.

[Brighton Rock]

The company where I work has an annual leave policy, which everyone is expected to adhere to.   Generally speaking, we have to give notice of leave at least double the length of the leave - if you plan to take a day off then you have to give at least two days notice. 

Seniority, either of status or length of service is not an issue in reserving leave. My own office is the only one in our company that is not staffed between Christmas and New Year. 

I plan my own leave around the meetings and events I have to attend.  There are a lot of both, so the "space" left for taking leave is quite tight but I usually manage a break at Easter, in the summer and Christmas, with a few days to have a long weekends.  I try not to go without a break, even a very short one, for more than six months.

Having a family can be a challenge when it comes to taking leave.  Fortunately, DH and I can take leave mostly at the same time, so we spend a good space together with the children.  Some of our tribe are of an age when they wish to be doing their own thing.  The younger ones have long vacations and therefore require more organisation.   

Our main vacation this year will be spent with friends whom we haven't seen for a couple of years.

[Atlanta Z3]

We have a fairly flexible time off schedule but the other admin for our department and I try not to be out at the same time.  Last year I moved my first request vacation choice because it was the same time as her child's fall break and she had a major trip planned.  I try not to be out when my bosses are out.  I try to give a two week notice for extended time off and at least a week notice (if possible) for individual days out.

I'm what one of my school counselors called a "life planner" so I already have most of my time off scheduled.  My DH is an airline employee, so our vacations are a little more far reaching.  End of May we are going to try to go to Belfast for the Titanic museum (thanks to a poster for the advertisement!) but I also want to see some wonderful sights of Ireland!  End of August we have a car club trip that is an annual event and we are on year 13.  You haven't lived until you have washed your car at 2 am in the morning to hang with the cool crowd!  In October we do a fall color something around the DH’s birthday.  In December I take my appreciation day/weekend in Maine for lobster and shopping, also an annual event for me – gets most of my Christmas shopping done.  (TSA just loved the calphalon baking pans in my luggage last year - all open stock baking pans were $9.99 and I have a great story about a professional grade stainless cookie press).  I need to add some beach time to this - the coast is only five hours away by car!

[gee4]

End of May we are going to try to go to Belfast for the Titanic museum (thanks to a poster for the advertisement!) but I also want to see some wonderful sights of Ireland!

Fabulous Atlanta, it was me who posted that!  Hope you manage to get your trip organised.  Let me know if need any info etc.

[Katie G]

I am very fortunate to have what is considered in the US to be a very generous vacation allowance -- 20 days plus the week between Christmas and New Year's. 

My office has about a half-dozen major events like board meetings, annual galas, etc. for which it is "all hands on deck" but other than that I can pretty much go whenever I want, provided I give appropriate notice.  For a single day, I can pretty much mention it a day or two in advance.  For a week, I like to give as much notice as I can. 

DH and I are heading to Williamsburg later this spring and then the beach the last week of August.  (Schools now start the week before Labor Day in our area so prices tend to drop a good bit that last week, but it's still definitely summer and the ocean is at its warmest.)  A few odd days here and there will round out the summer (I have days I need to "use or lose").

[peaches2160]

My vacation schedule is dictated by my bosses schedule.  However, current boss is not needy and as long as travel and major things are taken care of, e is OK.  We plan ahead so things run pretty smooth when I am off.  I still check in on email periodically in case there are any urgent matters that can't wait.