How to cope with lack of Vacation time in the USA

[madwife2002]

I would like to pose a question about the lack of vacation time we get here in the USA and how everybody manages or copes with the never ending working weeks.

I am from the UK as most know and before I left to come to the USA I had 8 weeks and 2 days vacation time allowed in a year, and 6 months sick time should I need it. I got this wheather I worked or not.

Now I have to work to earn paid time off, so every month I earn 12 hours paid time off that includes

Vacation Time

Sick days

Days the hospital calls you off because of too many staff on duty

The days you are sent home early because the census is low

Family problem days ie funerals, sick children etc

I only get 12 hours paid time off if I work 36 hours a week minimum. I work long days so I am told that because I have four days off a week well thats great LOL. So I work every sunday monday and one other day in the week.

I am tired, exhausted, fed up with working whilst I am sick with colds. In the summer well it is's great the weather means you swim all day.

In the winter well it is cold, windy, miserable and you cant sit in the sun and recouperate.

So apart from going to the gym what do others do?

I have visitors coming in march and I am desperatly saving up to have 3 days off with them so I can have a week off work.

[gonzo1, ASN, RN]

we are used to the short vacation time and being forced to work sick so we don't know what we are missing.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

we are used to the short vacation time and being forced to work sick so we don't know what we are missing.

I agree but the girls I work with all complain about the lack of time off, even though they dont know anything different.

I would love it that during our busy period if we could work overtime and then put the hours away until we need more vacation.

A friend of mine suggested this and I thought 'What a great idea' instead of getting paid we bank the overtime hours if we choose to.

[Belinda-wales, RN]

I agree but the girls I work with all complain about the lack of time off, even though they dont know anything different.

I would love it that during our busy period if we could work overtime and then put the hours away until we need more vacation.

A friend of mine suggested this and I thought 'What a great idea' instead of getting paid we bank the overtime hours if we choose to.

Kay - you could put your over time money away well some of it at least then take some unpaid leave andpayyour self from this money- it what wehave planned to do you have to be orginaized but you are - we have a "holiday account" which we put the extra hours money in and when the cenus is lower in the summer I am going to take unpaid leave.:redbeathe

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I have lived in Europe (Spain) so am familiar with the European style of work. In Spain, the entire month of August is pretty much a vacation - can't rent a house, do anything with utilities and even the police are on a skeleton crew - lol. However, I have also lived in Japan where a 45-48 hour work week is the norm and vacations are rare.

There are differences in cultures throughout the world. Personally, I have six weeks off every year. However, I never take more than two weeks per year and I haven't called in sick in over 10 years. This was the way I was raised - it was unthinkable when we moved to Spain (for 3 years), than an entire country could close down for a month! It was equally unthinkable that in Japan (where we lived for 3 1/2 years) would work and/or go to school so much.

However, since I moved to another country, it was up to me to adjust to the differences.

[prmenrs, RN]

How hard is it to move to the UK?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

How hard is it to move to the UK?

Depends on job really due to the EU and some requirements they have put down (basically employers have to prove that they was not able to employ from within the UK or EU). You need to meet UK requirements for overseas training which involves passing English exam as well as completing an Overseas Nursing Program with the NMC (UK governing body) You do not need to sit any exams unlike the US and Canada but do need a local exam ie RN from your nursing bodies. If your experience is in the shortage occupation list you have a better chance on coming to the UK with a work permit than just a general trained nurse or someone with minimal experience. Currently jobs for nurses are not good especially in certain areas ie London and newly qualified nurses with many struggling to find work. Usually looking at approx 12 months but a lot depends on completing requirements and transcripts being evaluated.

This is just my take on current UK issues and whats happening

Couple links

http://www.nmc-uk.org/aSection.aspx?SectionID=17

http://www.workingintheuk.gov.uk/working_in_the_uk/en/homepage/work_permits0/applying_for_a_work/business_and_commercial/shortage_occupations.Maincontent.0001.file.tmp/shortageocclist11_06.pdf

http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I have lived in Europe (Spain) so am familiar with the European style of work. In Spain, the entire month of August is pretty much a vacation - can't rent a house, do anything with utilities and even the police are on a skeleton crew - lol. However, I have also lived in Japan where a 45-48 hour work week is the norm and vacations are rare.

There are differences in cultures throughout the world. Personally, I have six weeks off every year. However, I never take more than two weeks per year and I haven't called in sick in over 10 years. This was the way I was raised - it was unthinkable when we moved to Spain (for 3 years), than an entire country could close down for a month! It was equally unthinkable that in Japan (where we lived for 3 1/2 years) would work and/or go to school so much.

However, since I moved to another country, it was up to me to adjust to the differences.

Yep I know it is down to me to make the changes, but as I am struggling I was looking to see how others coped. I know to move here was my choice and I have adapted remarkable well considering the circumstances, I just can't help missing my vacations;)

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Belinda I would love to save the money from any overtime but I only work overtime to pay the bills. If I didnt have bills I wouldnt do overtime I would be happy to work my 36hours a week

[Belinda-wales, RN]

I know -I was just offerning out some thoughts - everyone is different what floats one persons boat sinks anothers. Not everyone is going like living here and thinks change so quickly for me I do not miss the vacation time- as we never had any money to go anywhere and except for childbirth could not have taken more that two months of sick in 20 years - just lucky that way. Anyway just my thoughts.

[bethin]

I am from the UK as most know and before I left to come to the USA I had 8 weeks and 2 days vacation time allowed in a year, and 6 months sick time should I need it. I got this wheather I worked or not.

*choking on coffee* 8 weeks a year? That's two months! I've heard about European time off but always thought it was an urban legend. Curious, what do you get for maternity leave?

I do weekend option so I have 5 days off. I work every weekend so there is a trade off. It used to bother me that I was missing the theater, concerts, bars, and my friends but I got used to it. If it wouldn't bother you to work every weekend you might check into it. I've found employers are very happy if you volunteer on weekends because most younger people don't want to work Fri, Sat and Sun.

Do they have CNA's in the UK, and where do I sign up?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

*choking on coffee* 8 weeks a year? That's two months! I've heard about European time off but always thought it was an urban legend. Curious, what do you get for maternity leave?

I do weekend option so I have 5 days off. I work every weekend so there is a trade off. It used to bother me that I was missing the theater, concerts, bars, and my friends but I got used to it. If it wouldn't bother you to work every weekend you might check into it. I've found employers are very happy if you volunteer on weekends because most younger people don't want to work Fri, Sat and Sun.

Do they have CNA's in the UK, and where do I sign up?

We can't complain for annual leave here in the UK in the NHS, it is worked out on length of service but even then starting you get a reasonable allowance. This just explains Annual leave in general NHS is usually a little better than this http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_070759

Maternity leave is also very good. This link explains http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/Parentalleaveandpay/DG_10029285

We have CNA's unfortunately not in short supply so can't sign up

[Skwidward]

its a bit difficult for me personally to save up and take the time off, after putting a deposit down on our house, we had a car accident, and my dh hasnt been able to work since then, so with medical bills a new house and only one wage its not possible to do that right now.in fact we are still catching up from me having surgery and 3 months off with no income at all. (an open rotator cuff repair caused by the crash.)

in fact we are hoping that nothing bad happens back home as not only do we have the problem with time off and money, but dh isnt fit to fly that far right now.

this is not a gripe but just a fair comparison between the way that nurses are treated in the uk compared to the us. i accept it because this is where i choose to live and work, but it doesnt make it right that american nurses dont get decent vacation and sick time.

no, it sucks. people (here in the us) are always amazed when i tell them that in the uk you get 4 weeks paid vacation/year standard with any job and paid holidays (bank holidays etc).

i'm definitely considering a move back, even if just for a little while. might have to take some ranch dsg with me though.