All over for another year

[Mark]

Originally Posted by kitten_caboodle

Good advice

Absolutely. It's part of a healthy life/work balance. We've been left in no doubt that we're expected to use all our allowance, and I suspect questions will be asked if we don't.

[Pheebs]

Awwwwwwwwwww huddy Boo.

*huggles*

All you need to do is close your eyes and you can be anywhere in the world with whoever you like doing whatever you like! You don't need holiday time for that!

[Nutcase]

Out of 15 days (I started in April, and it goes Jan to Dec), I have 6 days unallocated, and 4 1/2 days allocated, so not doing too bad

Can't afford to DO anything with them though

[Mark]

Kitten, I'm one of those people who will work all hours, but I'm damn sure I take my vacation. I've never 'lost' a day in 14 years, and I don't plan to break that habit.

[Del Lardo]

Originally Posted by kitten_caboodle

making a rod for your own back there hon. The only way I'd ever not take hols/lieu owed to me is if I was self employed (don't know if you are!)

If you don't take it, you'll only end up losing out as it's unlikely you'll get any thanks for it, they'll just expect more from you. IF there's not enough resource, get more. If you're the only one that can do the job get them to sort your workload. If you are your own boss stop being a martyr and take some time off The only way they'll realise your worth is when you're not there, and if your work is important enough they'll realise they need to take on someone else to cover everything. Again if you're s/e it doesn't really count because you have to work like a slave sometimes to make ends meet.

(we have a bessie mate like you and it worries me. I used to be the same until i saw the light!)

I'm not self employed (work for a very large multi-national) but I am currently one of the few people in Europe who could do my job though new resources are being sorted out they won't be effective until next year. I agree that I need to strike a heathly work/social balance but I think I can do that without the need to take holiday for the hell of it. I know it's my right to take it but tbh I'd rather just get on with my job and if I can take holiday later on I will. If not then it doesn't really bother me.

[Davey_Pitch]

Originally Posted by Del Lardo

I'm not self employed (work for a very large multi-national) but I am currently one of the few people in Europe who could do my job though new resources are being sorted out they won't be effective until next year. I agree that I need to strike a heathly work/social balance but I think I can do that without the need to take holiday for the hell of it. I know it's my right to take it but tbh I'd rather just get on with my job and if I can take holiday later on I will. If not then it doesn't really bother me.

Could you get the money instead? At least way you'll be getting what you're owed

[Del Lardo]

Originally Posted by Davey_Pitch

Could you get the money instead? At least way you'll be getting what you're owed

Nope Use it or lose it.

[Del Lardo]

Originally Posted by kitten_caboodle

that's fair enough, it's your decision. Just be aware that you might face all kinds of crap if you decide that you do want to take your full allowance in the future because you'll suddenly be seen as not be 'committed' as you were before.

I find the reference 'taking a holiday for the hell of it' strange though, it's not 'for the hell of it', it's because you've earned it and need a decent break to be healthy - why would you work for nothing for 6 days? surely you can find something else to do other than work? Remember - all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

Do you mind me asking how old you are? I was exactly the same til I hit my mid-20's/early 30's then realised that there's more to life than wasting it away lining someone else's pocket. I enjoy my work, but only because I have a good balance - otherwise it takes over everything and starts to drag you down - I've seen it happen so many times. When i was a manager I looked for people who worked hard but smart - not those who had to stay all night and work their leave to cover their workload - if that was happening they either weren't competent enough or we needed more resource (usually the case, it seems to happen everywhere).


Still, i'm sure you know what's best for you. If you know how things are and still choose to do it, that's fine, but so many people think they're going to get something out of it, when usually all they get is used and abused (and not in a good way!)

I'm 26 and I'm sure in a few years my attitude with change but I'm currently at a point in my life where I can turn what I consider to be a good career (considering my Uni cock up) into a very sucessful one and it's going to take a lot of work and sacrifice but I'm also at the point in my life where I can do that as I'm not married with kids etc.

It's also worth mentioning that my job has me travelling all over Europe to see customers so it's not like I'm stuck in an office 8 hours a day.

[Del Lardo]

Originally Posted by kitten_caboodle

Ahhh then that is different. You went to Vegas recently with work, right? That kind of job does have a different kind of give/take. I don't mean to appear disparaging at all I just worry that people are getting taken for mugs when they're working their guts out. used to piss me off royally when i was a team manager because I tried to get the best out of my team without taking advantage and it's a fine line sometimes. The kind of job you're doing does take a lot of give and take and mutual understanding because you're travelling and you take your time out when you can get it. My mum's the same (in Vienna at the moment, travels all over the world with her work), and i touched on it a little when i was a consultant.

You know what's best for you, that's what's important.

At my last company I watched my boss (and good friend) do 11 hour days normally without lunch for 3 years taking virtually no holiday only to be forced out of the company when he upset the CEO (who is a complete arse). Still he threatened to sue for constructive dismissal (or something like that) when he left and now drives a very nice Merc so not all bad. Anyways, the point of the anicdote is that I've seen a good friend get ****ed over and I'm not going to make the same mistakes.

I did spend 3 weeks in the US last month (week in Vegas) and since I've been back I've been to Rome and Lisbon and I'm off to Amsterdam on Wednesday for a week. Think that gives you an idea of what sort of life I live and it's likely to get totally manic Oct-Dec hence the lack of holiday taking time.

[Will]

Paul when I was doing the travelling thing like you - I clocked up in a year nearly 2 months of overtime/TOIL. In a year I could never take it all, yes I did go on about 4/5 holidays a year, but even then I couldn't use it all up. After 6 years of clocking it up I was KNACKERED. When I handed in my notice I had a huge 3k payout plus my monthly salary and expenses owing to the fact I had accrued so much time off. Don't be lackadaisical with it - don't let them walk over you. Yeah you're young, but it can still affect you.

BTW (Off Topic), you've lost lots of weight, and since when did you get so handsome?! You were always a minger at uni!