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Vacation is important and, in almost all cases, there is no need to check in. Companies and employees part ways all the time and the companies manage to survive. It will survive your week away just fine.
If you ended up in the hospital tonight, and were told you were going to be gone in the next 24 hours what would you regret?
Not working more or not spending time on yourself/your family and friends?
Personally, I don't think I'll regret taking 4-5 weeks holidays this year. And a holiday doens't mean expensive trips..it could even be a couple days to spend with your kids or friends, or just having a long weekend partying.
I'd liek to think wehn I'm older and look back at my life, there will be few moments in "work" which will stand out .. however, I think there's a lot of other things that happened during "vacation" that will be great memories for me to smile about.
Work allows me to live the lfestyle I want..whats the use working all the time and not benifitting from it?
One of my deciding factors in accepting a job is how much vacation leave they offer!!
Not working more or not spending time on yourself/your family and friends?
Personally, I don't think I'll regret taking 4-5 weeks holidays this year. And a holiday doens't mean expensive trips..it could even be a couple days to spend with your kids or friends, or just having a long weekend partying.
I'd liek to think wehn I'm older and look back at my life, there will be few moments in "work" which will stand out .. however, I think there's a lot of other things that happened during "vacation" that will be great memories for me to smile about.
Work allows me to live the lfestyle I want..whats the use working all the time and not benifitting from it?
One of my deciding factors in accepting a job is how much vacation leave they offer!!
I totally agree. I used to think I wanted a career. Then I realized, I just wanted a paycheck.
Work is important, and you should enjoy it, but I prefer to think my life is not defined by my work, but rather by my family, friends, and other activities. That being said, I still won't be able to just drop out of sight for that week in August; I'll still have to stay connected part of the time.
I knew when I saw that number, you either worked for 20 years in a government position or worked in Europe...
I 100% agree. Vacation is essential.
Take it, you've earned it. Your family and friends don't care how many widgets you produce at work; they want their friend and you need your sanity and good times.
I saw it best expressed once as "Americans live to work; Europeans work to live".
I want my vacation!!
I 100% agree. Vacation is essential.
Take it, you've earned it. Your family and friends don't care how many widgets you produce at work; they want their friend and you need your sanity and good times.
I saw it best expressed once as "Americans live to work; Europeans work to live".
I want my vacation!!
I was asked by our VP to work over the X-mas holidays. I had saved 13 days of vacation to take during that period. The VP said I could carry my vacation over to the next year, as long as I took it in the first quarter. In Feb, I asked to take 3 of my carry over days. The boss-man looked at me like I was from Mars. I rehashed the whole situation and he agreed, but didn't look happy. After that, I didn't even want to bring up the additional 10 days. It's the old "use it or lose it", even when they ask nicely.
My personal choice in that situation would have been to negotiate the actual dates and get it in writing, signed by the VP. No signature? See ya after vacation!
One of my co-workers (whom the whole company depened on... A LOT) was getting ready to retire for a few years. He finally made up his mind, and made an appointment to put in his papers on Monday. On Saturday, he had a massive stroke, and died a few days later. We're still here, though it wasn't easy. As others have said... Work to live, not the other way around
It has been said that no one ever reflects in their sunset years, "I wish I had spent more time at work."
We do what we perceive as *having* to do. I would suggest that our perceptions are often faulty, and we need to choose our priorities carefully. Whether they are stated or not, we do act according to priorities. Become conscious of that (and consciously set them), and you will feel much less like a victim, and more in-control.
We do what we perceive as *having* to do. I would suggest that our perceptions are often faulty, and we need to choose our priorities carefully. Whether they are stated or not, we do act according to priorities. Become conscious of that (and consciously set them), and you will feel much less like a victim, and more in-control.
A previous supervisor was past retirement age and continued to work. As a matter of fact, he had already retired twice from other jobs.
He loved to work and did not feel he "had to" work. Not all people do what they perceive as "having" to do; some people do what they love to do.
He loved to work and did not feel he "had to" work. Not all people do what they perceive as "having" to do; some people do what they love to do.
Before I would go on vacation my one up and downs always had contact information (even if it would sometimes be less then helpful), my itinerary, a status report, and a list of what is or may arise while I am gone. My business customers were always given notification that I was going away, who would be covering for me (in addition to my out of office voice and email messages), and a trusted few would have my contact information too.
I also would let my staff know to call me if they ran into problems and needed or wanted my help (I would never leave my folks at risk)
When I leave the country, climbing, or diving there is no easy or reliable way to reach me.
When I am staying home doing the honey list, day,trips, or just goofing off I did not care if people called me. If I had a really distasteful project at home I would encourage my folks to call me for any issues or questions - ANY!
I would check me emails once a day at different times and replying to those that needed to be addressed i.e. the people who would or could not read/understand the out of office message. For a 10 or 20 minute investment of time each day I would save myself hours of email reading when I returned. I knew exactly where my team was, that if any issues that arose they were either resolved or being worked, and nothing was missed.
Before I adopted my email checking process returning from a vacation I would have a painful and long few days getting back up to speed. I would need to skim or read 2 or 3 hundred email for each day I gone and spend time getting updates from my team and customers as to their statuses.
In all of the years I worked, before being laid off, I was called maybe once a year. If professionals know they can reach you if needed, have the knowledge that you trust their judgment and will support them, and your customers trust you and your team it is very easy to take time off and enjoy yourself.
I also would let my staff know to call me if they ran into problems and needed or wanted my help (I would never leave my folks at risk)
When I leave the country, climbing, or diving there is no easy or reliable way to reach me.
When I am staying home doing the honey list, day,trips, or just goofing off I did not care if people called me. If I had a really distasteful project at home I would encourage my folks to call me for any issues or questions - ANY!
I would check me emails once a day at different times and replying to those that needed to be addressed i.e. the people who would or could not read/understand the out of office message. For a 10 or 20 minute investment of time each day I would save myself hours of email reading when I returned. I knew exactly where my team was, that if any issues that arose they were either resolved or being worked, and nothing was missed.
Before I adopted my email checking process returning from a vacation I would have a painful and long few days getting back up to speed. I would need to skim or read 2 or 3 hundred email for each day I gone and spend time getting updates from my team and customers as to their statuses.
In all of the years I worked, before being laid off, I was called maybe once a year. If professionals know they can reach you if needed, have the knowledge that you trust their judgment and will support them, and your customers trust you and your team it is very easy to take time off and enjoy yourself.
Reading what you did just makes me depressed.
Holiday / Vacation / Whatever you call it is a time to get away from that which drives you nuts the rest of the time.
Holiday / Vacation / Whatever you call it is a time to get away from that which drives you nuts the rest of the time.
As time goes on we who do the actual work ae losing benefits we gained between the 1960s and the early 1980s. Look at all the givebacks the unions have made so poorly-run companies can stay in business. I'll be d**med if I give up my limited personal time for my company.
On the other hand, it is only fair to my co-workers to have a complete set of documentation for any on-going projects coming due while I'm out. After all, there are two things you do owe your employer and coworkers: getting your work done and giving your coworkers enough knowledge to complete any tasks you owe the company.
Usually I plan my vacations such that I can complete most, if not all, of my tasks ahead of time. In those instances where emergencies crop up, I handle them. I also avoid vacations when I know I have something to do over a weekend.
In short, I never let work interfere with my vacations, and never let vacations interfere with work.
On the other hand, it is only fair to my co-workers to have a complete set of documentation for any on-going projects coming due while I'm out. After all, there are two things you do owe your employer and coworkers: getting your work done and giving your coworkers enough knowledge to complete any tasks you owe the company.
Usually I plan my vacations such that I can complete most, if not all, of my tasks ahead of time. In those instances where emergencies crop up, I handle them. I also avoid vacations when I know I have something to do over a weekend.
In short, I never let work interfere with my vacations, and never let vacations interfere with work.
Work is not your life. Yes its important and helps define us, but too many people go crazy about it. I mean seriously people get a hobby and a life.
Its very frustrating for me when people come in at 7AM and work until 6PM everyday because then I feel like I'm supposed to do the same (I don't, I work 7:50am to 5:10PM with a hour lunch). If there is a big project going on and I need to some in on the weekend thats fine, but I sure better get the time back.
Take vacation people and don't be workaholics, life is too short for that!
Its very frustrating for me when people come in at 7AM and work until 6PM everyday because then I feel like I'm supposed to do the same (I don't, I work 7:50am to 5:10PM with a hour lunch). If there is a big project going on and I need to some in on the weekend thats fine, but I sure better get the time back.
Take vacation people and don't be workaholics, life is too short for that!
If you spend your entire life just working then what kind of life do you really have?
Whether you have a family or not, just spend time enjoying life itself!
Whether you have a family or not, just spend time enjoying life itself!
Already scheduled my beach time...
That 70% of IT employees feel they shouldn't take vacation this year is a massive FAIL for corporations and societies. Maybe even a bigger FAIL than the shell game the Masters of the Universe in New York laid on the world.
That companies refuse to staff appropriately so that vacations are really time off - FAIL.
That companies refuse to observe that parts of a organization are seriously overburdened for extended periods of time - FAIL.
That employees don't take advantage of the opportunities to get a better deal and leave the abusive companies - FAIL.
I'm guilty as charged, too, on that last one. Until last year...
That 70% of IT employees feel they shouldn't take vacation this year is a massive FAIL for corporations and societies. Maybe even a bigger FAIL than the shell game the Masters of the Universe in New York laid on the world.
That companies refuse to staff appropriately so that vacations are really time off - FAIL.
That companies refuse to observe that parts of a organization are seriously overburdened for extended periods of time - FAIL.
That employees don't take advantage of the opportunities to get a better deal and leave the abusive companies - FAIL.
I'm guilty as charged, too, on that last one. Until last year...
No matter where I worked, and no matter how bad the economy, I would never live in fear of losing my job because I took vacation. To hell with a company with such low morale standards. If they can't adequately staff the IT ranks and put that kind of undue pressure on employees, they're doomed to failure anyways.
Agree all should take a week or two.. But amusing when one looks back to "1980's and how IT will free us, export all those dirty (AKA UNION) jobs will go away, all will work from home and USA will lead the world in hi-tech etc (BS)" Seems that none of such proved at true as the sooth sayer's predicted, other then USA lost jobs at an asounding rate, real wages gone down and a lot "hi-tech" shipped offshore.
Amazing now that so many "must call in while out" as to "need me (please)" and a lot more fear of "they might find they do not need me" then most will discuss. So it seems fear and a degree of paranoia on jobs has replaced the "work ethic" that morphed inot the "keep my job" ethic. The vacation thing is really needed.. in fact not to far back most got two weeks to start, and more holidays and better real wages.. and no fear of paranoia at work. Now go review the lead in about "1970-80's predictions" that was done just before the "USA golden age of greed" started up and a lot of employee "qaint concepts vanished. So enjoy your vacation and be sure to "check in".. as if corp USA cares!
Real world is you are a replaceable item on the books. get used to it, go on vacation! Stop with the "got to call in, as that might bother the company to find they cannot get by without for a week or more. No company wants to get into that sort of "key worker" mess. There are also those that find this a desperation and a sign or poor work or worse management skills if you must "Check in". Just fact the 2000's real issue.. we now fear "My ROI as viewed by the Corp". As old saying goes, "be careful for what you wish, as in 1970-80's, seems we got what was predicted, plus a whole lot less worker protections, benefits and more. Vacation or not, might damage a few ego's, a well managed company does not rotate around you or your skills.
Amazing now that so many "must call in while out" as to "need me (please)" and a lot more fear of "they might find they do not need me" then most will discuss. So it seems fear and a degree of paranoia on jobs has replaced the "work ethic" that morphed inot the "keep my job" ethic. The vacation thing is really needed.. in fact not to far back most got two weeks to start, and more holidays and better real wages.. and no fear of paranoia at work. Now go review the lead in about "1970-80's predictions" that was done just before the "USA golden age of greed" started up and a lot of employee "qaint concepts vanished. So enjoy your vacation and be sure to "check in".. as if corp USA cares!
Real world is you are a replaceable item on the books. get used to it, go on vacation! Stop with the "got to call in, as that might bother the company to find they cannot get by without for a week or more. No company wants to get into that sort of "key worker" mess. There are also those that find this a desperation and a sign or poor work or worse management skills if you must "Check in". Just fact the 2000's real issue.. we now fear "My ROI as viewed by the Corp". As old saying goes, "be careful for what you wish, as in 1970-80's, seems we got what was predicted, plus a whole lot less worker protections, benefits and more. Vacation or not, might damage a few ego's, a well managed company does not rotate around you or your skills.
I work for a government department, and I am a Scout Volunteer Leader. When I got those "you must come in for ...." sometimes I was in the cat-bird seat, sometimes not.
The only time I ever really felt professionally obligated to check in was when I was camping with the guys 700 miles away, and had a new system in production. It had passed all the tests, weekly reporting and monthly reporting. The only thing that was going to happen was the quarterly report. I checked in from the ranger station at the park we were transient camping at (before cell phones were common) and found as I expected, no problems.
An examples of a "win" was when I was top leader for Cub Scout Day Camp, I got the call. The problem was that in spite of my week-long commitment, the department just didn't understand. Scouting requires Youth Protection Trained Leaders for event participation. I was the only trained leader and had a whole bunch of untrained parent volunteers to help. The company caved in for their really minor problem when I related that I had to stay at Day Camp with my Cubs. Well, they said, you must come in. I said "Fine, I'll be there with 27 first through third graders, and 7 adults or older teenagers. We'll have our day camp right in the the IT department. And, Oh, by the way, every parent will be calling the politicians, because they are all local tax payers, and will demand answers...... ergo, they caved.
One case where I didn't get to stay at camp was a nearby Boy Scout Resident Camp week. Got a before breakfast call on Monday Morning. Division manager had called a project meeting for Tuesday at 3pm, we were going to "Crash" the project schedule for early delivery. Couldn't use the Youth Protection excuse because we had 4 full time Scoutmasters and 4 part time Scoutmasters signed up. So, since it was beastly hot that week, and my last trip to the shower house had been early Sunday afternoon after swim test, I decided not to change uniforms. I showed up right before 3:00 and just by chance, the only seat at the conference table that was open was next to the division manager. I sat there and smelled of camp, and wore the same clothes the rest of the and went back to camp every night that week.
My supervisor rolled back all my vacation used that week, thankfully. The additional resources were supposed to get the project done by end of the year. Brook's Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks%27_law was again validated since the project went live two years after that year end.
However, since that time, I have taken my Scouting vacation with my boys and the troop at the other Council Camp. It is over 150 miles away, and company policy says I get mileage if I have to come in. Besides that, cell phones are not real reliable so far out in the boonies, *and* message delivery service from the camp office out to the Troop sites is not highly reliable either... Haven't had a problem at that camp with the company.
My situation applies to a governmental department with a public constituency which can be quite vocal if stirred up. You just have to pick your battles, and have the backup where you can use their own rules against them.
FBIG
The only time I ever really felt professionally obligated to check in was when I was camping with the guys 700 miles away, and had a new system in production. It had passed all the tests, weekly reporting and monthly reporting. The only thing that was going to happen was the quarterly report. I checked in from the ranger station at the park we were transient camping at (before cell phones were common) and found as I expected, no problems.
An examples of a "win" was when I was top leader for Cub Scout Day Camp, I got the call. The problem was that in spite of my week-long commitment, the department just didn't understand. Scouting requires Youth Protection Trained Leaders for event participation. I was the only trained leader and had a whole bunch of untrained parent volunteers to help. The company caved in for their really minor problem when I related that I had to stay at Day Camp with my Cubs. Well, they said, you must come in. I said "Fine, I'll be there with 27 first through third graders, and 7 adults or older teenagers. We'll have our day camp right in the the IT department. And, Oh, by the way, every parent will be calling the politicians, because they are all local tax payers, and will demand answers...... ergo, they caved.
One case where I didn't get to stay at camp was a nearby Boy Scout Resident Camp week. Got a before breakfast call on Monday Morning. Division manager had called a project meeting for Tuesday at 3pm, we were going to "Crash" the project schedule for early delivery. Couldn't use the Youth Protection excuse because we had 4 full time Scoutmasters and 4 part time Scoutmasters signed up. So, since it was beastly hot that week, and my last trip to the shower house had been early Sunday afternoon after swim test, I decided not to change uniforms. I showed up right before 3:00 and just by chance, the only seat at the conference table that was open was next to the division manager. I sat there and smelled of camp, and wore the same clothes the rest of the and went back to camp every night that week.
My supervisor rolled back all my vacation used that week, thankfully. The additional resources were supposed to get the project done by end of the year. Brook's Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks%27_law was again validated since the project went live two years after that year end.
However, since that time, I have taken my Scouting vacation with my boys and the troop at the other Council Camp. It is over 150 miles away, and company policy says I get mileage if I have to come in. Besides that, cell phones are not real reliable so far out in the boonies, *and* message delivery service from the camp office out to the Troop sites is not highly reliable either... Haven't had a problem at that camp with the company.
My situation applies to a governmental department with a public constituency which can be quite vocal if stirred up. You just have to pick your battles, and have the backup where you can use their own rules against them.
FBIG
Too many people identify themselves with their job, and can't help but check in while on vacation.
Personally, I don't do this and I prefer my staff not do this either, unless its an emergency.
It can be a matter of preparation. If you don't already have a backup plan for important tasks (and you should, people get sick, or quit, as well as take vacation), then you'd better make one.
I will admit I have had to work on vacation, because of a negotiation that had to take place for a huge project. But I limited my "work" time to before breakfast, and stopped emailling after that point.
Most of the time, I carry my cell phone and my boss and staff know that if its really an emergency, they can call, but they should try to get along without me. They should be able to contact my boss first, before calling me.
James
Personally, I don't do this and I prefer my staff not do this either, unless its an emergency.
It can be a matter of preparation. If you don't already have a backup plan for important tasks (and you should, people get sick, or quit, as well as take vacation), then you'd better make one.
I will admit I have had to work on vacation, because of a negotiation that had to take place for a huge project. But I limited my "work" time to before breakfast, and stopped emailling after that point.
Most of the time, I carry my cell phone and my boss and staff know that if its really an emergency, they can call, but they should try to get along without me. They should be able to contact my boss first, before calling me.
James
insecurity over their job.
If the boss realizes how easy it is to get along without you for a week.......
If the boss realizes how easy it is to get along without you for a week.......
...whe the boss realizes he doesn't want to deal with all the little things that you do to help things keep rolling smoothly.
All in all, I prefer my boss to know what I do, the good and the bad.
If they can get along without you, sooner or later they will figure it out.
James
All in all, I prefer my boss to know what I do, the good and the bad.
If they can get along without you, sooner or later they will figure it out.
James
If you're really working for an organization that considers how much of an entitlement you have taken - one that they have given you (or in many countries must give you) - you're definitely in the wrong place!
Yes, times are harder than they have been - but I still stick by the general approach here in the UK that if you work solidly for too long you will eventually become less effective. And your manager will eventually notice this too...
And as a manager I believe that having to discourage staff from taking holiday or making frequent calls to them when they're away is a sign of poor planning on my part.
Yes, times are harder than they have been - but I still stick by the general approach here in the UK that if you work solidly for too long you will eventually become less effective. And your manager will eventually notice this too...
And as a manager I believe that having to discourage staff from taking holiday or making frequent calls to them when they're away is a sign of poor planning on my part.
In our firm we get 20 days annual leave per year. We are not allowed to accumulate more than 40 days (2 years) leave. They force us to take leave to keep the "work life " balance in balance.
Given that it is tough times at the moment, do you really want to work for a firm that will get rid of you if you have a holiday? I actually think that Toni is being controversial for a bit of fun, but any firm that has that sort of hold over you will be losing staff as soon as the good times come. It is short sighted.
If you genuinely are in that position I feel sorry for you, just remember that holiday pay is a buffer if you do get laid off.
Given that it is tough times at the moment, do you really want to work for a firm that will get rid of you if you have a holiday? I actually think that Toni is being controversial for a bit of fun, but any firm that has that sort of hold over you will be losing staff as soon as the good times come. It is short sighted.
If you genuinely are in that position I feel sorry for you, just remember that holiday pay is a buffer if you do get laid off.
The company adopted a policy of paying out any unused vacation the next year -6 months after the calendar year ended, as vacation is a liability on the accounting books.
Now they want to eliminate those payouts, so they force us to use up all of our vacation every year.
James
Now they want to eliminate those payouts, so they force us to use up all of our vacation every year.
James
As someone else posted unused vacation is an accounts payable on the books. If they say they offer it, you are entitled to it just like a paycheck.
Companies used to payout unused time, but most have stopped. Insurance companies have done studies and found that people who don't take vacations are more likely to end up in the doctor's office. So your employer's insurance costs are higher if they pay out. Other studies show that we are more productive when we are at work when we've had time off.
Do not let anyone bully you out of your vacation time. Those paid days off are a part of your salary. You are entitled to them.
Companies used to payout unused time, but most have stopped. Insurance companies have done studies and found that people who don't take vacations are more likely to end up in the doctor's office. So your employer's insurance costs are higher if they pay out. Other studies show that we are more productive when we are at work when we've had time off.
Do not let anyone bully you out of your vacation time. Those paid days off are a part of your salary. You are entitled to them.
I agree 100%....take a damn vacation. What good are you if you are burnt out?
Don't forfeit your earned time off because you think it will make a difference in your value to your employer--that they won't lay you off because you've shown your dedication and company spirit.
It doesn't make a damn bit of difference to anyone but you.
Just like a computer, a reboot/vacation clears out a lot of junk. Take the time. The sun will still rise in the morning without you, and you'll be a better employee for having taken some time off.
It doesn't make a damn bit of difference to anyone but you.
Just like a computer, a reboot/vacation clears out a lot of junk. Take the time. The sun will still rise in the morning without you, and you'll be a better employee for having taken some time off.
I support 100s of servers. When I am on vacation I get more than a few calls. When I get back from vacations, I get to take care of the built up mess...
You need to train someone who can back you up. Its not smart of a company to not have a plan in case something happens to you. You could get sick or get in a care accident or this or that and although I'm sure they would get by it'd be much better for them and you if there was a backup for you.
Understandably, Toni, you address a generic "you". That "you", understandably, is an employee, given far greater numbers of employees as against the sect of far fewer employers. This holds for the TR audience as well, or so I observe.
I agree to "confusion as to what the word actually means". Yours, too, it seems. Your comment got me to thinking, then to reviewing the etymology of "vacation".
As I suspected, the word can only and strictly apply to the viewpoint of the employer, not the employee. The "vacancy", or related "vacuum", is that appreciated by the employer, not the employee. Unless, that is, you take the employee to be somehow vacant between the ears. In which case, such a one would not be capable of appreciating a vacant chair.
So, I agree. I see confusion. Which leads then to the difficulties you mention. I know I experience them. As self-employed, I am made to appreciate my own vacuum, in the chair as well as between my ears. This is difficult.
So, I dispense with the word, going in an entirely different direction, lest I become evacuated. Is that what happened to you?
I agree to "confusion as to what the word actually means". Yours, too, it seems. Your comment got me to thinking, then to reviewing the etymology of "vacation".
As I suspected, the word can only and strictly apply to the viewpoint of the employer, not the employee. The "vacancy", or related "vacuum", is that appreciated by the employer, not the employee. Unless, that is, you take the employee to be somehow vacant between the ears. In which case, such a one would not be capable of appreciating a vacant chair.
So, I agree. I see confusion. Which leads then to the difficulties you mention. I know I experience them. As self-employed, I am made to appreciate my own vacuum, in the chair as well as between my ears. This is difficult.
So, I dispense with the word, going in an entirely different direction, lest I become evacuated. Is that what happened to you?
Lately that?s the policy in our company, check if everything is ok (plans, work, who will be in charge, etc.) take your time off and please leave the phone in the office. Of course this wasn't the general policy but a couple of years ago we faced a mayor burn out of people and a lot of problems could be easily solved if people were a little bit rested. Now there is no timeframe to take vacations or restrictions to take them.
The exception, as always, is if the work is really urgent don't take them, we will pay you or please program them another time, always looking the best interest for the company and the people.
The exception, as always, is if the work is really urgent don't take them, we will pay you or please program them another time, always looking the best interest for the company and the people.
Vacation for me is an ESCAPE. I spend the previous two weeks letting my clients and co-workers know that I will be gone during those specified dates. I am always out of touch, that is, out where no cell phone will reach me and I don't even turn it on as it drains the battery rather quickly searching for a site to establish a link. I however can't figure out how if I take a two week vacation that I'm three weeks behind when I get back.
Luckily for most people in the US with standard US cellphones - that means pretty much anywhere else in the world! With WIFI, that is changing, since WIFI is a worldwide standard.
I used to leave detailed contact sheets, giving day-to-day details full of strange names and phone numbers. I even wrote down helpful phrases (phonetically) since not everyone speaks English. I'll also give a friends email address (if I'm staying with that friend) with a warning not to send anything confidential.
My manager appreciated this, and I (of course) got NO calls.
Nowadays if I travel in the US I take a cell, and there's always a call or two. Not a problem - if possible I answer it and always put 1 hours time down (I don't get paid by the hour, so this is a futile gesture at best). Plumbers, Electricians, etc never charge less than an hour, so why should I.
I used to leave detailed contact sheets, giving day-to-day details full of strange names and phone numbers. I even wrote down helpful phrases (phonetically) since not everyone speaks English. I'll also give a friends email address (if I'm staying with that friend) with a warning not to send anything confidential.
My manager appreciated this, and I (of course) got NO calls.
Nowadays if I travel in the US I take a cell, and there's always a call or two. Not a problem - if possible I answer it and always put 1 hours time down (I don't get paid by the hour, so this is a futile gesture at best). Plumbers, Electricians, etc never charge less than an hour, so why should I.
I agree. I need to get away and not be bothered. I would make sure my boss and my peers and my customers would have contact numbers for an emergency. I would go an extra step and tell my staff where i would be and to contact me if there were any issues. But I also said if, they managed to go the week without me and I didn't come back to any surprises in my in-boxes, I would take them to dinner on my own dime. It worked every time
I'm a big fan of three, and four day weekends. I don't think I would stay sane if I had to depend on a "once a year " getaway/vacation. When it all builds up I just schedule a Friday, or Monday off. Sometimes both
I've been with the same employer for thirty plus years and get eight weeks of vacation a year. The boss won't let me take more than two weeks at a time. I have two solid dates with two seperate clients that I do every year at the same time, one over the fourth of July and the other the second week in January. Besides those dates, I can take time off when I schedule them three months ahead of time. I take two weeks every year at the same time, the second and third weeks in August, from then on, I look at the calendar and stick in the left over times on mondays and fridays until all but two weeks is left and I sell that back at the end of the year as a bonus for an new computer.
Our concept of the summer vacation is a leftover from the agricultural society where the children were needed in summer to help with the harvest. As this is no longer the case (at least in most first-world economies) I would avocate abandoning this concept. Most resistance can be expected from the schools, who will have to rethink their way of working (which in itself might be a good thing) as there may be no longer fixed periode in which all students will be absent and other periods in which all student will be present.
Food for thought, i would say.
Food for thought, i would say.
Most people tend to forget that their ACTUAL life starts AFTER 5 p.m. Working is not living. Working is MAKING MONEY TO LIVE. Replacing your life with your work IS WRONG!!!
If working is not living, or at least part of living, then what is it? The opposite of living is dying. Do you actually spend half your waking workday hours in such a state? What an enormous waste! We were made for meaningful, creative, productive expression of our skills and talents for the betterment and benefit of others as well as ourselves. Surely there must be some way to do that in your job, or to see your job differently.
If you were working at our company only to make money to live, and not feeling any passion for the possibilities your job could have to improve living for others, then you wouldn't last long. You either need a new job or a new perspective.
I don't say this in any kind of put-down way. Maybe this is a time to take stock and realise there may be a different job out there that you could integrate with the whole of your life. Wouldn't it be great to really look forward to coming work every day for the blessings and possibilities your job could create and not just the money?
I work full-time (more than, actually) for a charity and get paid nothing by the them. I go out and raise *all* my support for living expenses through voluntary donations from friends, family, churches and other sources in order to have the privilege of doing the work I do (and to help meet human needs they are eager to help with as well). I can hardly get to the office fast enough in the mornings!
Obviously, not everyone is called to do this kind of thing, but if you actually get paid to do what you do, surely there must be some way to think of work as part of your real life. Sorry, but I get really disturbed and saddened by your view of work and life (which is also shared by many others). You need a passion for something beyond yourself.
Ed
If you were working at our company only to make money to live, and not feeling any passion for the possibilities your job could have to improve living for others, then you wouldn't last long. You either need a new job or a new perspective.
I don't say this in any kind of put-down way. Maybe this is a time to take stock and realise there may be a different job out there that you could integrate with the whole of your life. Wouldn't it be great to really look forward to coming work every day for the blessings and possibilities your job could create and not just the money?
I work full-time (more than, actually) for a charity and get paid nothing by the them. I go out and raise *all* my support for living expenses through voluntary donations from friends, family, churches and other sources in order to have the privilege of doing the work I do (and to help meet human needs they are eager to help with as well). I can hardly get to the office fast enough in the mornings!
Obviously, not everyone is called to do this kind of thing, but if you actually get paid to do what you do, surely there must be some way to think of work as part of your real life. Sorry, but I get really disturbed and saddened by your view of work and life (which is also shared by many others). You need a passion for something beyond yourself.
Ed
I enjoy my job a lot, but that doesn't mean that I don't wish I had every Friday off of work. If I didn't have to work I don't think I would be too terribly sad about. But I do enjoy work for the experience, learning and creative release it gives me. I get to do a lot of great things. However, I won't give up a day of my vacation to work because my personal live is very important to me and in the end a job is a job, but life only comes once.
I work for a living. Period. If you do that for fun, that's your problem. Personally, instead of "enjoying myself" in an office, I prefer doing this at the seaside, spending time with my family, or mountain hiking with them, or reading a good book, or... a million other things besides managing repairs of printing equipment (which is what I do for a living - and I mean BIG printing equipment not computer printers). The entire blah-blah about meaningfull... whatever that is, is just a way of hiding your lack of personal life! As to the charity thing... Nice of you to do that. I also DONATE for charity. However, devoting my entire life to that is not something I feel I was made for. I'm neither a saint nor Mother Theresa... I'm more of a sinner and admit it. I work as long and AS MUCH as I'm paid for. And I feel working is not what man was made for. After all, work had made man what he is, but lack of work isn't known to have ever killed anyone.
"If working is not living, or at least part of living, then what is it? The opposite of living is dying. "
Maybe Work = Living Death? Kidding!
Seriously though I am a 'pampered European' according to what I read throughout this discussion. Last year my wife had to take the kids on vacation without me. This summer I have had to cancel my plans to go away for a week with my family in order to spend the time at home studying for an MCTS to help me survive yet another reorg / merger which is happening in the autumn.
Maybe Work = Living Death? Kidding!
Seriously though I am a 'pampered European' according to what I read throughout this discussion. Last year my wife had to take the kids on vacation without me. This summer I have had to cancel my plans to go away for a week with my family in order to spend the time at home studying for an MCTS to help me survive yet another reorg / merger which is happening in the autumn.
LOL! America is very much like Asia now. Work work work work work! No work means no bucks. No bucks means no eats. Who has time for a vacation when you need to put food on the table. Welcome to modern America.
whats your beef?
summer is a good time to take holidays because the weather is better.. generally anyways..
besides, you can take vacation any time of year, no one says it has to be in summer..
should kids go to school all year round ? you must have had a sh!ttee experience on sumemr holidays?? just cause you grow up and take and responsibilities, doesn't mean you have to be old and forget whats its like to be a kid.
chill out dude
summer is a good time to take holidays because the weather is better.. generally anyways..
besides, you can take vacation any time of year, no one says it has to be in summer..
should kids go to school all year round ? you must have had a sh!ttee experience on sumemr holidays?? just cause you grow up and take and responsibilities, doesn't mean you have to be old and forget whats its like to be a kid.
chill out dude
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