Taking an unpaid vacation, is it possible?

[Wheaties]

Hi, I browsed the search function to look for answers to my question, and I've gotten a lot of good insight to my question.

The hospital I work in uses PTO (paid time off) for vacation. I know vacation time varies from person to person, and place to place. As for me I can get 30 days off per year of paid vacation if I work full-time during that year. OR 15 days every 6 months OR 7.5 days every 3 months.

But 30 days isn't enough for me. I want at least 42 days per year (6 weeks). It doesn't have to be 6 weeks consecutively, but probably divided into 2-3 weeks for each time off for vacation.

My question is, can I take more time off even though I used up or don't have anymore PTO hours? I love to travel, I actually just got back on my very first vacation, I went to Asia and it was wonderful.

It seems like trying to accumulate PTO hours seems too restrictive, which I don't mind, getting paid to go on vacation is nice, but at the same time if I can get more vacation time without getting paid I'd take it. It's not about the money for me. I don't care about getting paid for vacation.

Do people here go on unpaid vacation? Is it even possible to go on unpaid vacation? I have checked the hospital manual regarding vacation time, and all it talks about is PTO hours for vacation, and leave of absences for medical reasons, bereavement etc.

I know I have an obligation to the hospital I work in, as well as the patients, and I don't want to send the wrong message.

But at the same time my passion outside of work is traveling.

[caliotter3]

People take unpaid leaves of absence from their jobs for various reasons but usually for one time situations. Planning to do this on a regular basis is something that would have to be worked out with the employer. The added costs of bringing in a replacement for short periods of time most likely would make such a plan prohibitive. But you never know until you ask.

[Flo., BSN, RN]

Also benefits such as health insurance comes into play.

[LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN]

If you don't need the health insurance you could go PRN/registry and then you could work when you wanted to and time off as you needed. Other wise if you needed a full time job you should disscuss with your employer. Does your vacation time increase with years of service.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

There is only one way to get an answer to your question: ask your facility. And no, it's not standard procedure to routinely take unpaid leave - most people need to work full-time.

[SpringerCab]

We have PTO at our hospital as well. Our policy is if you have the PTO time you can take time off, if you don't have any PTO then time off is not supposed to be approved. I would certainly ask human resources to clarify the policy.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Your situation is why some people prefer to work part time rather than full time. They then volunteer for extra shifts (when it is convenient for them) to make up for the lost income.

Most institutions don't want to give unpaid time off because it costs them money to continue to pay for your benefits (such as health care, workers' comp. insurance, etc.) while you are not working. It makes you an expensive employee for them to maintain.

Edit: I should add that I arranged for a week of unpaid time off once -- at the beginning of a new job. I arranged it prior to my start date. It was approved because there were special circumstances. It was not routinely allowed.

[MERRYWIDOW46]

I have only seen unpaid leave for unforseen circumstances, not for a vacation. Unforseen, as in unexpected accident/medical problem and no PTO, a parent ill in a distant city, child ill and PTO gone.

I work 24 hours a week float and make my own schedule. I am able to flex and withing the float guidelines work Su/M and F/SA in a pay period, taking off Tu the first week to Th the second week. I can not abuse that though.

Check with HR, sometimes exceptions are made. However, it may make for adimosity with your co-workers. Why not try travel nursing, work and your passion all in one.

Good Luck.

[skittlebear]

At my facility, we are allowed to take only PTO and for only 1 week (not more than one week) at a time. I had requested 3 weeks to try and use up some of my vacation hours (if you don't use them you lose them). Instead of taking 3 weeks off in a row, I just split my weeks up. I know my facility wouldn't go for taking time off without getting paid. I've never heard of this...but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[SandraCVRN]

I would ask, we ARE allowed to take unpaid vacations. BUT if someone else that has PTO available asked for the same time period off the person with PTO gets the first choice.

But like someone mentioned for benefits most employers requyire you to work XXX number of hours per year.

[MB37]

On my unit, we are allowed to take vacations without the appropriate PTO to cover them. On many other units it's not allowed - it came up at a staff meeting recently, and may change. You can always ask, but it might not be the best thing to ask in an interview. Also, your math isn't exactly right. You say you need 42 days of vacation to cover 6 weeks - but that would mean you're claiming 7 days a week. If you get 30 x 8 hour days of PTO, divide it by 5, and you have 6 weeks of paid vacation at 40h/wk. If you get 30 x 12h shifts, you can take 10 weeks off. The problem you're more likely to run into isn't lack of PTO, it's lack of available vacation time. We can request it up to 6 months in advance, but they limit the number of people who can be gone at any given time. If you don't ask for it by 5 3/4 months before you plan to be gone, the time isn't usually available. Anyways, worth looking into!

[SlightlyMental_RN]

This is why I'm now working per diem. If you don't need the benefits, it's a wonderful way to go, as you get to set your schedule and take as long of a vacation as you like (and can afford.)