Paid Vacation at Small Non-Profit?

[Anonymous]

I'd looking for info on paid time off at local DC non-profits, especially those with fewer than 20 employees.

I'm considering a job offer at a small, local non-profit. It would be my first non-profit job, and I'd be the third full-time employee. It's a salaried position, and I would be launching a new program there. I am a mid-career professional, having most recently practiced law for 6 years, but this position is not directly law-related. I have a 4 year old and am looking forward to doing something more in line with my values and having to *just* work a 40-hour week. I'm taking a huge paycut, but money isn't the motivating factor here.

The sticking point for me is the paid time off - it's 9 holidays, 10 vacation, 7 sick days. I'd really like 3 firm weeks of vacation in addition to the sick and holidays. One of the employees is the boss - so she doesn't have restricted vacation time (I've been able to speak frankly with the other employee and receive this info). The second employee - after 6 years working at this non-profit has 12 vacation days, 7 sick days, and 9 holidays. So his vacation days are only 2 days more than my offer - after working there for so many years.

If I can't negotiate for more paid time off, should I ask for UNpaid time off?

[Anonymous]

My tiny non-profit increases vacation as your time there increases. I believe that some mid-career people have been given more vacation time than people who start out at as their first job.

We get all federal holidays and 10 days of sick days regardless of length of service. We start with 10 days of vacation and it goes up to 25 days at year 13.

I'd be concerned about an organization where the boss is allowed unlimited vacation but doesn't allow others to have a reasonable amount of time off.

[Anonymous]

That's miserable. After 6 years only 12 days??

Vacation is easy for employers to negotiate. I'd try....hard.
I work at a nonprofit and got 6 weeks upon hire. (We count experience upon hire)
Our new hires get 2 weeks!

If not maybe negotiate telecommuting? At least you could not have to commute?

[Anonymous]

I would negotiate. At my (large) nonprofit, I have been here 3 years and get 27 days per year plus holidays--granted, we have PTO, not sick vs. vacation.

[Anonymous]

It's my understanding that one of the perks of nonprofits is more time off (better benefits, but lower salary in many cases). My last two nonprofit jobs had at least 18-24 vacation or personal days in Year 1. I'm back at a for profit and have 15 accrued days. It stinks.

[Anonymous]

One of the perks of nonprofits SHOULD be more time off, but that's not always the case ... some of them are unjustifiably chintzy. It may be some kind of misguided organizational culture that thinks you should feel guilty for taking vacations.

[Anonymous]

We get 10 vacation + a week at Christmas + 4th of July week
8 personal
8 sick
the regular holidays + 8 extra days around holidays and some random "just because you work hard for no money" days.

[Anonymous]

I worked at a small nonprofit and got 10 days vacation. 10 days sick...1 week at christmas, and maybe 12 holidays (fri after thanksgiving and random day).

Nonprofits generally don't have the ability to pay $$$$ but they can make it up to employees with generous leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked at a small nonprofit and got 10 days vacation. 10 days sick...1 week at christmas, and maybe 12 holidays (fri after thanksgiving and random day).

Nonprofits generally don't have the ability to pay $$$$ but they can make it up to employees with generous leave.

I work at a tiny non profit and have 4 weeks vacation and 1 week sick. More than I had at my huge corporate job.