Unpaid Vacation

**CloneSolo** · 03-26-2012, 04:45 PM

Wondering how everyone's employers or as bosses how unpaid vacation time is handled. I have in the past never put limitations on it, and have always lets employees use it for family emergencies. However, employees have now started to abuse this policy and wanted to get some opinions on how other businesses handle this topic.

Thanks

**IcSyU** · 03-26-2012, 04:48 PM

I believe unpaid vacation time in my former job was basically known as being "fired." If you couldn't keep your vacation time under 240 hours during the year you were basically dead weight. If you needed more, it was for a DAMN good reason.

**2ndCyCE** · 03-26-2012, 04:48 PM

As an employee, I have never used unpaid vacation even if I had it available as an option. I always assume that my employer gives me enough rope to hang myself with, and I never want to find the end of that rope!

**rebecacy** · 03-26-2012, 04:50 PM

must be pre-approved and misuse or misrepresentation is grounds for immediate dismissal

**farminclone** · 03-26-2012, 04:51 PM

Tell them to knock it off or they are fired.

Seriously.

**mwitt** · 03-26-2012, 04:51 PM

We have two weeks of unpaid vacation available to us. I only personally know one person who's used it. It's all subject to the approval of his or her supervisor.

**isulive2train** · 03-26-2012, 04:54 PM

They do not care about their job/career. So end it for them, life lesson.

**2ndCyCE** · 03-26-2012, 04:54 PM

On a related note, I only dream of being paid enough money to be able to say, "I can do without a week's worth of pay! I have other things to do!"

Being broke sucks.

**agrabes** · 03-26-2012, 04:58 PM

At my job, the only people who are allowed unpaid time off are National Guard members. Personally (Admittedly, I'm not a manager) I would think that you should be able to take time off without pay as much as you want within reason. After all, you're not paying them for it. It probably depends on how much paid vacation the employees get. I know a lot of my older coworkers started out with no vacation at all for their first year of work.

**CyCrazy** · 03-26-2012, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndCyCE

On a related note, I only dream of being paid enough money to be able to say, "I can do without a week's worth of pay! I have other things to do!"

Being broke sucks.

I sure as hell can't say that either!

**Farnsworth** · 03-26-2012, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

I believe unpaid vacation time in my former job was basically known as being "fired." If you couldn't keep your vacation time under 240 hours during the year you were basically dead weight. If you needed more, it was for a DAMN good reason.

30 days of vacation! where do I sign up? I get 12 vacation plus 6 sick days.

We don't have unpaid vacation. If you need it you have to have a reason and documented proof, such as bereavement or medical leave.

**Farnsworth** · 03-26-2012, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by 2ndCyCE

On a related note, I only dream of being paid enough money to be able to say, "I can do without a week's worth of pay! I have other things to do!"

Being broke sucks.

no kidding. Not sure how I could afford to take a week off unpaid.

**VeloClone** · 03-26-2012, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by CloneSolo

Wondering how everyone's employers or as bosses how unpaid vacation time is handled. I have in the past never put limitations on it, and have always lets employees use it for family emergencies. However, employees have now started to abuse this policy and wanted to get some opinions on how other businesses handle this topic.

Thanks

We have from time to time allowed people to take an unpaid leave for a day. However it has to be mutually agreed upon. If it is going to leave me short, no deal. It can help to keep costs down when it is slow.

Our biggest problem has been with intermittent FMLA (Family/Medical Leave). People will find a quack to sign off on an ailment (real or ficticious) as a "major medical issue" and bingo, they can get 12 weeks of leave in a 12 month period to take intermittently. We have had a huge issue with people abusing this benefit. There is no ability to approve or deny this leave either.

I'm not against FMLA - I took 11 days when one of my kids was born - but there needs to be some serious looks at this law to prevent abuse.

**Acylum** · 03-26-2012, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by agrabes

At my job, the only people who are allowed unpaid time off are National Guard members. Personally (Admittedly, I'm not a manager) I would think that you should be able to take time off without pay as much as you want within reason. After all, you're not paying them for it. It probably depends on how much paid vacation the employees get. I know a lot of my older coworkers started out with no vacation at all for their first year of work.

These two things are mutually exclusive with most people.

**DurangoCy** · 03-26-2012, 05:16 PM

I'd just put something in writing 2-4 weeks, pre approved, and for a very good reason.

I have co-workers that have no concept of the fact that they are costing the company money by not being at their desk... or their at their desk not doing anything of value. I suppose that's another topic though.