Work Benefits: vacation time

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Ok, so I started working 3 weeks ago and so far I'm as happy as I can be. Everyone is extremely nice, my job is fun and challenging and in my field, and I love it. Oh, and My boss is amazing

I was contracted through a staffing agency on an intent-to-hire. So after the period with the staffing agency is over, I would become a direct hire, and be eligible for company benefits. Overall, I think the benefits are good...but I'm not really convinced about the vacations policy. It goes like this

*1st and 2nd year you get 5 days.

*3rd and 4th year: you get 2 weeks

*5th and forward: 3 weeks

What do you guys think? Is this within the norm? should I try to negotiate better vacations when the time comes?

Saludos,

Caro

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Congratz that you are happy with your new job!!

What kind of your job you got?

The first 2 years only have 5 vacation days??? Not sure, but normally is 10-12 days.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Congratz that you are happy with your new job!!

What kind of your job you got?

The first 2 years only have 5 vacation days??? Not sure, but normally is 10-12 days.

Thanks, I'm an HR assistant

I really would like to stay with them for at least 2 years, but I'm kind of worried that this might make it difficult for me. I would like to visit my home country more often that that.

Saludos,

Caro

[ViVi and JimJim 0]

Icic...oh nice job!!!

I hope I can get my first job here soon too...as I just received my EAD.

If you like that job, I think it's a good start and at least you can earn some solid working experience in the US, then you may change for a better one later. Good Luck!!

Yeah~I agree as new immigrants, I'd also like to visit my home country as much as possible, at least once a year and spent 10 days to 2 weeks each time.

Congratz that you are happy with your new job!!

What kind of your job you got?

The first 2 years only have 5 vacation days??? Not sure, but normally is 10-12 days.

Thanks, I'm an HR assistant

I really would like to stay with them for at least 2 years, but I'm kind of worried that this might make it difficult for me. I would like to visit my home country more often that that.

Saludos,

Caro

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Thank you!

Congrats on your EAD, and good luck on the job search

Saludos,

Caro

[Jesse and Hema 2]

5 days seems pretty low to me, but it depends on the nature of the job. My last two jobs didn't give me ANY vacation, but I've been at my current job under 2 years, and I will have over 5 weeks vacation this year.

For an HR assistant, that does seem a little low. How flexible are they about taking unpaid days off?

[JVKn'CVO 11]

5 days seems pretty low to me, but it depends on the nature of the job. My last two jobs didn't give me ANY vacation, but I've been at my current job under 2 years, and I will have over 5 weeks vacation this year.

For an HR assistant, that does seem a little low. How flexible are they about taking unpaid days off?

I thought so too, I'm just so clueless about benefits here. Wow, 5 weeks, that's great! My husband gets 3 weeks, which makes things even more difficult

I guess I should try to negotiate this when the time comes...

Saludos,

Caro

Edited March 22, 2008 by JVKn'CVO

[Lili 3]

I honestly believe it is a little low.

I thing that companies who hire temp-to-hire employees are abusing of us. Just my own experience.

Especially when they will put you on their payroll, this is when their clock starts not when you were a temp.

So let's say you are a temp for 4 months, those 4 months will be disregarded by them.

But maybe your company is different.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

I honestly believe it is a little low.

I thing that companies who hire temp-to-hire employees are abusing of us. Just my own experience.

Especially when they will put you on their payroll, this is when their clock starts not when you were a temp.

So let's say you are a temp for 4 months, those 4 months will be disregarded by them.

But maybe your company is different.

Yeah, It sucks having to wait to be a direct hire, my waiting period will be 14 weeks, I guess that's not so bad. But going through a staffing agency helped me because since I don't have previous US work experience, it worked to my advantage that they administered skill tests and those results helped me get the job.

Saludos,

Caro

[Y's_habibitk 2]

I've always gotten 2 weeks the first year... I just started a new job too, 2 weeks the first year and 3 after 5 years.

Congrats! Its so great your boss is nice... makes all the difference in the world

Lisa

[Otto 83]

Ok, so I started working 3 weeks ago and so far I'm as happy as I can be. Everyone is extremely nice, my job is fun and challenging and in my field, and I love it. Oh, and My boss is amazing

I was contracted through a staffing agency on an intent-to-hire. So after the period with the staffing agency is over, I would become a direct hire, and be eligible for company benefits. Overall, I think the benefits are good...but I'm not really convinced about the vacations policy. It goes like this

*1st and 2nd year you get 5 days.

*3rd and 4th year: you get 2 weeks

*5th and forward: 3 weeks

What do you guys think? Is this within the norm? should I try to negotiate better vacations when the time comes?

Saludos,

Caro

This is pretty normal/typical - 1 week (first two years), then 2 and so on. Good would be something like 2 weeks at the get-go, but this is rarely the case in the US (sadly). With most jobs, one needs to consider (also) weekends, which holidays are paid (usually the 'big' six) and things like birthdays and 'personal' (and/or sick) days. Overall, what you listed is typical.

(By the way, for those wondering, in most cases - when an employer says you get 1-week, it's typically 5 days (as opposed to 7 days) - and 2 weeks would be 10 days (as opposed to 14 days).)

p.s. Caro,

Can you PM Karin with the agency you used? Thanks..

[*JG* 2]

5 days for the first years is not completely abnormal. I've heard of it lots of time. Especially if they give alot of holiday time, Personal days, and/or floating days. Do those seem more then usual?

Mostly, the jobs I apply for give 2 weeks vacation.

[JVKn'CVO 11]

(sorry, went out for wings with hubby back now)

@Y_habibitk - yeah, 2 weeks is what I'm used to and what I was hoping for. My boss is definetly a big plus...another good thing, I'm 15' away from work! the location is just amazing. Thanks for the congrats!

@Karin und Otto - Thanks for the input! I'll sure PM Karin the info

@Jomo's girl - We get 7 holidays, so I guess that's normal. Thanks for the reply

So, I guess all posts confirm what I suspected, it is low compared to the average vacations...

Saludos,

Caro

[Kez/JWolf 6]

Here in Boston the norm is 1st & 2nd year 8 days + 2 personal days.... 3rd year 13 days + 2 personal days.... 5th year 15 days + 2 personal days.... 10th year 20 days + 2 personal days..... most people also get the big 6 holidays paid.... just over half of the big employers give no paid sick days for the first year and then 5 days paid sick for each year worked....

I too did not know how thing were with vacation and sick pay so I spent my time waiting for EAD doing some research into this area....

Kez

[JVKn'CVO 11]

Thank you Kezz for the reply

Saludos,

Caro