Summer Vacations

[Pete Incaviglia]

Okay

So I'm in a three-man department at a mid-sized daily.

Sports ed. has booked his vacation weeks for the year. All of them nine day stretches (weekend, five days vacation, weekend — makes sense).

Other guy, same thing.

Me? I keep getting denied. Well, we need you to work there's X Tourney to cover this day. There's X track meet that day.

With the other two guys' weeks, some important dates on my beat, August and July are COMPLETELY out of the question — and I've been told as much.

May and June? I keep getting denied for the reasons above.

Am I wrong to be frustrated? And what should I do? The other two both got their weeks. And this is NOT a problem is any other department: cityside, copy desk, etc.

 

[Moderator1]

Who is doing the denying? The SE?

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Who is doing the denying? The SE?

Yes. Despite the fact he's scheduled three of his weeks on top of stat holidays too boot.

Basically, me and the other guy have to work those three stats, and then cover his three days owed later in the year. Sure, we're granted three days at a later date too. But that said, I can't even get my regular vacation days, so you can only imagine how hard it'll be to get those three days at a time that benefits me.

 

[Moderator1]

So have you asked him what's up?
People have to cover for people on vacations. It's that simple. Most of my staff had five weeks - yes, five, which is way too many - so we had to have some overlap and some missed events. Seniority always ruled in conflicts.
Managing vacation is a pain in the ass but you can't just say no whenever it creates a scheduling problem.

I had five weeks for the final five years of my career. Used all of it once. Too much.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You should talk with your union steward.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

So have you asked him what's up?
People have to cover for people on vacations. It's that simple. Most of my staff had five weeks - yes, five, which is way too many - so we had to have some overlap and some missed events. Seniority always ruled in conflicts.
Managing vacation is a pain in the ass but you can't just say no whenever it creates a scheduling problem.

I had five weeks for the final five years of my career. Used all of it once. Too much.

That's the thing, I have two weeks vacation - yes, just TWO - this year and he's denied every request to date. And I'm running out of options.

And it's like you said Moddy, some things will have to be missed — in this case, it's a track meet and one game; and neither are in the same weeks I've requested off.

Agreed, seniority rules. And I'm low man, so I pick last, but that doesn't mean I get shafted like this. I still should get the vacation days that are owed to me in full. I.e. I get my two days off, five vacation days, two days off, like everyone else. I just shouldn't be allowed to get first pick or premium weeks in the summer, etc.

You should talk with your union steward.

I thought of this. And I'd have a case. But I don't want to do this until it's a last resort. I did email my frustrations to my sports ed., who is NOT a good communicator or personality, and will undoubtedly feel/hear flak from him. He'll see it as something it's not. I like the guy, and I'm not a guy to take things personally or make things personal. This is simply a work issue I want resolved.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

At my place, vacation bids are put in every six months. They are granted based on seniority. If there is a conflict, seniority rules, but that person goes to the bottom of the list for the next conflict. That conflict could come the next bidding period -- it's not just for that bidding period. It's also spelled out in our contract that if you are granted the five-days off in a week, you get the weekend before and after off.

The contract also says full-week or more vacation bids take preference over shorter requests.

If that's the way things are supposed to be done at your place, you will win. If they don't like it, tough ****. They'll have to find a different way to **** you over. Make it clear they don't get to do it without a fight.

It's fun to be MBTG! (Message Board Tough Guy)

 

[kingcreole]

Make it real simple Pete - You get to take some vacation this summer or you take it during football season.

On a serious note, put the ball in the SE's court. Ask him when is a good time to take vacation.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Make it real simple Pete - You get to take some vacation this summer or you take it during football season.

On a serious note, put the ball in the SE's court. Ask him when is a good time to take vacation.

. . . or get paid double-time for the time.

 

[In Exile]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

 

[TwoGloves]

Sounds like the SE is a douche bag who doesn't give a damn about at least one of his staff members.

 

[Some Guy]

I would basically flat-out tell him: OK, YOU tell ME when I can take my vacation.

Don't need to be rude about it. Just say, hey, I've got these two weeks I've got to use, I know there will be conflicts with the other guys ... you tell me when to take them, and that's when I'll take them.

 

[HejiraHenry]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

Yes, we all admire the leadership role that Italy and France have taken in making the world a better place.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

Yes, we all admire the leadership role that Italy and France have taken in making the world a better place.

How could they? They're on vacation.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

Yes, we all admire the leadership role that Italy and France have taken in making the world a better place.

Last I looked, the UK has a pretty big role in making the world a better place.

Every country listed there has nearly twice the amount of days as a U.S. worker. You would think that the most powerful country on Earth could give its workers at least one extra week of vacation?

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

Yes, we all admire the leadership role that Italy and France have taken in making the world a better place.

Last I looked, the UK has a pretty big role in making the world a better place.

Every country listed there has nearly twice the amount of days as a U.S. worker. You would think that the most powerful country on Earth could give its workers at least one extra week of vacation?

Maybe we can get the government involved in that, too.

Listen, if you don't like your company's fringe benefits, you can always seek out other employment.

 

[silvercharm]

A mid-sized daily, and only three employees in sports?

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

A mid-sized daily, and only three employees in sports?

To say we're short-staffed is an understatement. It's why taking time off is all but impossible.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Average number of vacation days for the average worker by country:

Italy 42 days
France 37 days
Germany 35 days
Brazil 34 days
United Kingdom 28 days
Canada 26 days
Korea 25 days
Japan 25 days
U.S. 13 days

What a country.

Yes, we all admire the leadership role that Italy and France have taken in making the world a better place.

Last I looked, the UK has a pretty big role in making the world a better place.

Every country listed there has nearly twice the amount of days as a U.S. worker. You would think that the most powerful country on Earth could give its workers at least one extra week of vacation?

Maybe we can get the government involved in that, too.

Listen, if you don't like your company's fringe benefits, you can always seek out other employment.

Sure, I could go live in Italy or France!

My point is that since the U.S. is the world's lone superpower (for the moment), you would think that companies would try to make life easier on its employees. Instead, you still have politicians who want to go back to the 19th century and make people work 80 hours a week for 10 cents an hour.

 

[IGotQuestions]

Hey moddie, 5 weeks is NOT too much vacation time, especially if that's what the company is offering. In this country, sadly, people think even 4 weeks is too much or is a luxury benefit of that job because the average in this country is like 13 ****ing days off. Even the Japanese - who sleep on their way home from work - average twice as much as us.