VENT- vacation requests

[ProBeeRN]

I've been at my current job almost 3 years. And not once, NOT ONCE in those 3 years have I been able to take a week of PTO during a time when my kid is on a school vacation. Not a Christmas break, not a spring break, not President's week, not a single week in the last 2 weeks of June, July, or August. Every year I accumulate 50 bazillion hours of PTO that I NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO USE!! And I just got the call that they are handling vacation requests for February-May and I did not get any of the weeks that I requested. I JUST WANT BE ABLE TO TAKE A VACATION WITH MY FAMILY! Now I would understanding if I was a new hire. Or been there a year. Or two years even. And it's not like people aren't leaving- we've hired a TON of new people AND had some retirements this year. WHAT DOES IT TAKE?! Last year I had to move my honeymoon because they couldn't "guarantee me time off" the week after my wedding.

SOOOOOO FRUSTRATED!

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Toe surgery always works pretty well for a good week or two vacation...*ahem*, I mean FMLA time. I worked one place that had the nifty-est looking co-workers, because they would all have something or another done in order to get 'vacation' requests.

Bottom line, you do what you need to do, because employers are NOT ethical. (That's 20+ years of nursing talking to you there.....)

[Altra, BSN, RN]

OK - I understand the emotional reaction on your part - I would be upset too.

However -- going back to your initial hire/orientation ... what is the policy/practice on scheduling vacation and other PTO? If you have never done so, I would definitely recommend asking your immediate supervisor or manager what the procedure is.

Then you'll know.

I'm not saying that that will improve the situation - there may be a policy in place where those with the most seniority are permitted to schedule all of their available vacation before those with less seniority, or something similar. But you will have concrete information/perspective to use for the benefit of yourself and your family. I just never understand why/how people allow themselves to remain in the dark about things like this. Ask!

Wishing you an enjoyable vacation ... :)

[flashpoint]

Our is based on who put the request in first. After that they base it on why people want that specific time off...if I want it off because my kids are out of school and someone else wants it off because they are getting married, the person who is getting married gets it. We're really good about switching with each other or rearranging plans or whatever it takes.

[badphish]

the military have great vacation, time off policies.

[tazzle]

I have paid vacation time on the books, but if I want to take it I have to make up the hours. So, I have 40 hours PTO on the books, I work Mon - Fri second shift. When I submitted a request to use my time I had to work a comprable number of consecutive weekends (Sat and Sun) in order for them to approve me taking my earned PTO. PTO is a benefit of employment. We gave up $2/hr pay in order to be eligable for these "benefits" we have to earn by working extra. Go figure that one out! We are checking the state's labor laws for the legality of this fine piece of BS!