Tribune introduces 'discretionary time off'

Which will allow employees to take time off as and when required, but without a fixed amount of PTO accrued.

Uh huh. Yep. Sure.

http://jimromenesko.com/2014/11/14/tribune-publishing-implements-discretionary-time-off-policy/?fb_comment_id=fbc_558166560949531_558174410948746_558174410948746#f44d442f8

 

At a corporate level they find if there is no set time off, people tend not to take any vacations.

It shifts from being an expectation to being perceived as making you look like you're not serious about your job.

 

I've always been willing to put in extra hours gratus and even extra days sometimes, but I take all the vacation, comp days and holidays I'm owed. My wife, who is not in journalism, never takes all the vacation she is due and usually works an hour or two per day on vacation.

 

"subject to the professional judgment and approval of their supervisor"

There lies the rub. An employee has to hope they have a good relationship with their boss and/or they're not so incompetent that they are able to get along without the employee for a week.

 

Shouldn't be a problem for news siders. Nothing ever happens over there anyway.

 

Hey, even newssiders need a break from those 6 p.m. deadlines.

 

Does this mean high school writers could disappear for the entire summer? As long as s/he notifies a supervisor at least two weeks in advance, of course.

 

I'm not sure about this, but aren't "exempt employees" salaried (i.e., managerial) ones? If that's the case, doesn't seem that this policy would apply to line employees (e.g., reporters, etc.).

 

So you've never worked for the Tribune Co., I see.

 

Bingo. Also helps when said layoff time comes around to determine those who are "really dedicated team players" and those who could just as well work somewhere else.