Is it rude to take 10 day vacations as an employee requiring backup coverage for work duties?

[Anonymous]

Staffing is not my problem to solve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that in some industries, taking a vacation of this length is mandatory--it is how the organization develops enough skill overlap (and oversight over your workstream) to be able to easily replace you, and make sure you're not up to nefarious doings in the meanwhile.

Take. Your. Time. Off.

Yes - more common in Europe but you see it in the US energy industry for the first reason and in banking for the second reason. It's an easy risk management tool that also makes employees happy.

[Anonymous]

Shoot, I'm taking a lot of leave now because I'm leaving the company in September. I earned it, I'm taking it. Guilt doesn't enter the conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shoot, I'm taking a lot of leave now because I'm leaving the company in September. I earned it, I'm taking it. Guilt doesn't enter the conversation.

Similarly, I'm a fed expecting to get RIFed, trying to find the balance between getting some leave paid out/saved if I am still employed, and burning the leave that won't get paid out and enjoying the summer with my kids. I'm taking about 3 weeks this summer but not consecutively. Normally I'd take 1-2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just took 2.5 weeks off. Yeah, I felt guilty, but I have the time. And I've already taken 2 other week long vacations this year. I figure if my boss doesn't want me to take the time off, she wouldn't approve it.

I bust my butt and pick up a lot of coverage when other people are out.

You're taking A LOT of vacation. You've taken off over a month, and we're only halfway through the year. That's a lot. Just FYI in case you're unaware, because you said your boss wouldn't approve it if it weren't ok. Don't be surprised if you get feedback at some point that you're taking too much leave.

What are you talking about?

If she has the leave why shouldn’t she be able to use it when she wants to use it?

This isn’t a lot or a little equation. It is have leave or not have leave. Anything else is meaningless.

You think companies should be able to provide a leave comp package upon hire and then say “we gave you too much leave or yes you have leave and we know you want to take a trip this summer when it makes sense for you and your non work life but we only allow you to take leave In October or November and no more than 3 days at a time”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have co-workers who take a month and nobody even blinks.

Same. I’m taking three weeks in August and that isn’t even the longest time off amongst colleagues in my office this summer.

[Anonymous]

No. That is your company's responsibility. Coworkers giving you stink eye should look to management. Like, they never take time off, lol?

[Anonymous]

“Is it rude to take my allowed leave”
No, it’s not rude. That’s it.

[Anonymous]

Always use up all of your vacation time and don't feel guilty about it. It's your time!

[Anonymous]

I miss when my spouse worked for a European company and no one blinked when taking two weeks off and being inaccessible on email.

Those days are over though.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not rude! It’s your life and they don’t own you.

[Anonymous]

The only risk is the company realizes they don't need you and your high salary, since a junior did your job just fine.

At my company they insisted you take vacation and not just 1 day here and there. The idea from some health seminar was the employees need the break for mental wellness. You weren't allowed to save it to get paid out later or even to lose it. You were "forced" to stay out of the office for at least 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only Americans think that taking vacation, especially one lasting more than a week, is an issue. This is your one and only life. If you have the time, take it. You will never get it back. Enjoy living. I know it’s hard to do in the United States where work culture is a rampant disease. But do it anyway. Take a long vacation.

Totally agree! I am a boomer and have only taken two weeks of vacation a year my entire life. Life is too short. Take as much as your organization provides. Organizations are not loyal to employees anymore. Don't be more loyal to them than they are to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the most American question ever.

+2

People need to stop bending over for these corporations. They don’t care about you!

[Anonymous]

No. Other people can also take long vacations if they want to.