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0 pointsPonyGumbo14y ago0 comments

I started a new job last year with 10 days of vacation. It wasn't until December that I learned that five of those days were mandatory for the week between Christmas and New Year's. If you had no vacation days left, it was unpaid time off.

0 comments

CaptainDecisive14y ago

Sounds like a perfect way to game the system and get three weeks off each year. Just take a full two weeks off during the year and then you magically get an extra week each Christmas ;-) If you know you're doing it ahead of time then you can easily factor in the reduction in salary.

bretthoerner14y ago

Since this is HN, there's a pretty good chance you're an Engineer of some kind. Where are you (or what do you do?) that companies can get away with this?

PonyGumboOP14y ago

I'm in the US. I work remotely for a large healthcare company. The benefits are terrible, the pay is mediocre, and there are no opportunities for advancement, but it allows me to work from home with limited oversight.

civilian14y ago

"Working from home with limited oversight" couldn't you turn that into "work remotely from the Caribbean"?

1 more reply

mattmanser14y ago

This is the norm in the UK, companies close over the holidays and there are mandatory holidays that go with that.

Being clear about this with new (and especially young) employees is a good idea as to people straight out of college, it's not obvious.

But there's certainly nothing dodgy about it.

arethuza14y ago

In Scotland closing on January the 1st and 2nd is practically a medical requirement.

whyleyc14y ago

Not at any UK company I've worked at (1 corporation, 1 retailer, 1 startup).

1 more reply

bretthoerner14y ago

Mandatory closing are one thing. Hell, I'd like to have the holidays off anyway.

But it's 50% of his total time off. Is that "the norm"?

1 more reply

rjh2914y ago

Is it really? My company runs over the holidays and our problem is actually finding people who can work during that time. Surely lots of tech companies have to keep running over Christmas?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

CaptainDecisive14y ago

bretthoerner14y ago

Since this is HN, there's a pretty good chance you're an Engineer of some kind. Where are you (or what do you do?) that companies can get away with this?

PonyGumboOP14y ago

civilian14y ago

"Working from home with limited oversight" couldn't you turn that into "work remotely from the Caribbean"?

1 more reply

mattmanser14y ago

This is the norm in the UK, companies close over the holidays and there are mandatory holidays that go with that.

Being clear about this with new (and especially young) employees is a good idea as to people straight out of college, it's not obvious.

But there's certainly nothing dodgy about it.

arethuza14y ago

In Scotland closing on January the 1st and 2nd is practically a medical requirement.

whyleyc14y ago

Not at any UK company I've worked at (1 corporation, 1 retailer, 1 startup).

1 more reply

bretthoerner14y ago

Mandatory closing are one thing. Hell, I'd like to have the holidays off anyway.

But it's 50% of his total time off. Is that "the norm"?

1 more reply

rjh2914y ago

Is it really? My company runs over the holidays and our problem is actually finding people who can work during that time. Surely lots of tech companies have to keep running over Christmas?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse