Vacation Time...How much do you have?

[LaBomba]

We have both been retired long enough that we have to ask each other what day of the week it is and neither one of us knows so we look at the cell phone. Busier than ever and loving it.We live on the boat April to October and would be on it all year if the water up here didn't get hard in the winter.

 

[menzies]

I have six and a half Saturdays and a half Sunday in my week.

 

[Simi 60]

Haven't worn a watch in thirty years, retired in my 40s and the unmarried wife several years later at 50.
The day she finished work was pretty much the day we finalised the deal on our current boat.
Moved aboard straight away and haven't been in a marina since.
That was over two years ago.
Living the dream (-;

 

[AusCan]

I spent most of my working life on an equal time roster. Either 2 weeks on / 2 weeks off or 4 weeks on / 4 weeks off. For much of that I also had an additional 4 weeks annual leave. That equates to 30 weeks off per year.

To earn this I worked anything up to 126 hours per week during my time on; and in isolated and inhospitable environments such as deserts, the arctic and war zones.

At the moment I’ve cut it back a bit and work about 3 months per year.
The boast is 15 minutes away, so plenty of time to enjoy.

 

[cardude01]

I’m 53 and retired.

Boat is currently 1163 miles from my house currently so it is not getting much use. The plan was to take some long trips on the boat after retiring and since both kids are off in college, but that hasn’t happened yet sadly. Other stuff going on that seems to be taking up our time. I’m always the one pushing for more boat time because my wife is not as interested in it. With the boat so far away I have to admit it’s been hard to stay excited about boating. I suppose I need to move it back to Texas soon or get rid of it.

Maybe after our planned Bahamas trip this April-May we will get more excited again.

 

[fractalphreak]

I get 16 hrs and change vacation a month, so almost 5 weeks per year. I typically can't take off for 5 weeks at a time though, so I usually try for two 10 day to 2 week mini vacations in the summer months, and use a day or two here or there the rest of the year. With the endurance of the new boat I will probably try for at least one 3 week vacation this summer.

With the new boat we're not sure on the annual use pattern, it will be much more inviting for overnight dock stays or overnight weekend trips than our old one because its got so many more amenities. The old boat we usually managed 25-30 nights aboard each year, even when I had less vacation accrual. Ping me in a year, but I am betting we get closer to 40-50 nights a year on this one. Boat is about 20 minutes away from home. I'm on her 2 days a week right now, but not overnight and its still all work, no play, in a dry yard!

 

[Pack Mule]

We started young. Married at 17 and twin daughters at 18. I’ve worked as a machinist or in construction all of my life . One to two weeks vacation is normal for this kind of work. Now I work for a hardwood lumber company in sales. I will be ther 15 years this year, maybe I could get another week off.I would like to start working from home before to long. I’m 10 minutes from work and we’re only 20 minutes from the boat.

 

[jleonard]

Currently retired for the past 2 years, living in Florida (central west coast) winters (8 months) and living on the boat summers in Connecticut.
Prior to that we lived 1 hour 45 minutes away from the boat. We did Friday night to Sunday night (or Monday morning) for about 25 years prior. As a manufacturing and design engineer I was lucky that I never had to work but a handful of weekends during that time. Started at 2 weeks vaca and went to 5 then back to 2 for a while when I changed jobs.
Maybe one or two more summers on the boat, then I'm out of big boats.
Got a 17 ft center console here in Fl that we try to use once a week (but it's been cold here lately).

 

[Seevee]

Guess I've been lucky....

Out of college I taught school for a few years, had no money, didn't know what a boat was and was miserable. They told me I had to work Mondays. I said, "every Monday?" They said yes, so I quit.

Moved to FL, opened my own business and once I got it going with a good manager, had 3 day weekends all the time. Couldn't take much more than a week or two vacation but that was fine with the boating I did. We also did a lot of light plane flying where it was easy to get around quickly. The boats were all small, 24 or less stuff back then.

Didn't take long to realize that living in a tent on the water was better than a mansion off the water so I've had great water access since mid 80s, and absolutely no regrets. Having fast access to the boat is absolutely paramount! If it's easy, you'll do it.

Also, had other jobs but mostly had flexibility in my schedule for fun and other things.

Retired but still do a bit of work in real estate, but very little. The stuff I have pretty much runs itself. But, need something to keep the mind sharp and figure out what day of the week it is.

Always take time off to enjoy life..... the best day at work is often worse than the worst day at play.

 

[BandB]

As a manufacturing and design engineer I was lucky that I never had to work but a handful of weekends during that time. Started at 2 weeks vaca and went to 5 then back to 2 for a while when I changed jobs.
.

That's a vacation policy I find absurd that one builds up over 25 years of work, then changes companies and they don't grandfather any of it. Now, I've known persons to make it a requirement of the job change and it was honored.

When I worked for an employer, I never took vacation in my 20's, but got married when 30 and it became very important to me. I already had 10 years there so got three weeks vacation. At 15 years it went to four weeks. That was the maximum but at 20 years, I negotiated five weeks. At 23 years, I changed to 52 weeks a year.

Now, my wife was a teacher but of the eight weeks she got, she'd take courses or work on projects at least three of them so averaged four to five weeks.

 

[RCook]

Got our first cruiser (C-Dory 22) 7 years before retirement, when I had 5 weeks of vacation annually, plus more I had accumulated. We started with 1-2 week cruises, and before retirement worked our way up to two months in SE Alaska. Being well hooked on cruising at that point, we switched to a 26-foot diesel cruiser, with considerably more creature comfort. Have been retired now for 20 years, making possible 2-5 month summer cruises on the Inside Passage. After 18 years on the 26, moved to our Nordic Tug. It lives 900 miles away in Poulsbo WA - I'm still working on how to manage a boat that's not right here in Utah on its trailer

 

[TDunn]

I am 66 and fully retired. I closed my business two years ago and have no plans to go back. I live on an island 10 minutes from the power boat. It takes an extra 5 minutes to row out to the mooring the sailboat is on. Here in Maine I have boats in the water from mid-May to late October. Personally I would like to move back to Washington state where I could boat all year and cruise the BC coast, but my wife is not willing to move. She is shoveling snow off the deck right now.

 

[Bacchus]

Basically fully retired now but still instruct a few Project Mgmt Courses for previous employer every year.
When employed FT my employer had an interesting & attractive vacation policy.
Every fifth year anniversary employees received 2 extra weeks vac (just for that year) in addition to their normal (increasing periodically) vac time.
This allowed us to plan month long cruises and still keep several weeks Vac for other "normal" activities.
At one point we took 5 wks and did an Alaska ferry + land van camping trip form the NE & return.

 

[MrJim]

I'm in my mid-50s and starting to see retirement appear on the horizon. I could probably retire now and live fairly comfortably but that would have a drastic impact on my boating and travelling lifestyle. But then again, so does working full time which only allows me to get away a few weeks each year. Quite the dilemma.. .

 

[BandB]

An interesting question. We have another thread on Millennials. We've talked about time and money being essential to boating. Well, Millennials in the US typically only have two weeks vacation a year. In other countries they have far more. I feel two weeks isn't adequate and that more is merited.

One other problem is starting over with new employers so you build up at one employer but lose it when you change jobs.

Some vacation numbers.

24% of private industry workers in the US receive no paid vacation.

Average number of days based on years service with employer:

1-5 years 10 days
5-10 years 14 days
10-20 years 17 days
20+years 19 days.

Would love to hear from other countries plus what you all think is reasonable.

 

[jleonard]

That's a vacation policy I find absurd that one builds up over 25 years of work, then changes companies and they don't grandfather any of it. Now, I've known persons to make it a requirement of the job change and it was honored.

During those negotiations I gave in on the vaca time and they gave in on salary, so it worked out.

 

[GFC]

I'm 72 and married to a cute gal 9 years younger than I am. We both retired 8 years ago and have enjoyed it. We're 12 minutes from the boat so it's easy to go out for a day or weekend or whatever. We also have a 13' Whaler in the garage and there are days when we just take it out and play for a few hours.


A friend of ours recently talked me into what I think it going to be a fun job--driving a school bus as a part timer. I can work if I want, don't have to if I feel like staying home and so far I'm enjoying it. I love working with and being around kids so this job is a natural for me.


As far as vacation time? I just took a month off to go to AZ and will be taking 5 weeks off after the first of the year. They don't care, they just work me into their schedule whenever I want to work.

 

[Simi 60]

An interesting question. We have another thread on Millennials. We've talked about time and money being essential to boating. Well, Millennials in the US typically only have two weeks vacation a year. In other countries they have far more. I feel two weeks isn't adequate and that more is merited.

One other problem is starting over with new employers so you build up at one employer but lose it when you change jobs.

Some vacation numbers.

24% of private industry workers in the US receive no paid vacation.

Average number of days based on years service with employer:

1-5 years 10 days
5-10 years 14 days
10-20 years 17 days
20+years 19 days.

Would love to hear from other countries plus what you all think is reasonable.

4 weeks a year is standard in Australia.(we also get paid sick days , compassionate leave and free healthcare)
When we were working we used to get our 4 week compulsory holiday and take unpaid leave as well so as to get 8 to 12 weeks to travel.
Hated the idea of see a country in a couple of days like so many seem to do and preferred to pick a spot, rent an apartment and actually live there scouting out future retirement destinations.
Seemed pointless to go somewhere and not be able to immerse yourself into and see all or at least a lot that is on offer.

 

[AusCan]

4 weeks a year is standard in Australia.(we also get paid sick days , compassionate leave and free healthcare)
.

Don’t forget long service leave. (an additional 9 weeks off after 10 years of service)

 

[Capitaine R]

I will have 7 weeks saved up when it comes time to bring the new to us boat down to Florida from Connecticut. My wife is not so lucky so she may only be able to do part of the trip.

 

[MurrayM]

We get maternity/paternity leave as well.

 

[Insequent]

Don’t forget long service leave. (an additional 9 weeks off after 10 years of service)

Yes, good point. Back in the day you had to complete the 10 years before taking any of it. And with many companies it was 13 weeks after 15 years. But then flexibility increased. You earned it at the rates above, but it was earned pro-rata at those rates and available to take anytime you wanted.

In 1990 we took 6 weeks, flew to Banff and then ski-bummed at a whole bunch of resorts going south, finishing in New Mexico. Great trip, returned to work full of enthusiasm. One thing I still remember: one time we pulled into a gas station and I put 12 gallons into the tank. Because it was such a huge purchase (just over $10) we qualified for a bonus, a free large bottle of Pepsi!

 

[BandB]

A friend of ours recently talked me into what I think it going to be a fun job--driving a school bus as a part timer.

Wifey B: Fun Job?

I hope you're right. I've just heard too many school bus stories.

 

[O C Diver]

An interesting question. We have another thread on Millennials. We've talked about time and money being essential to boating. Well, Millennials in the US typically only have two weeks vacation a year. In other countries they have far more. I feel two weeks isn't adequate and that more is merited.

One other problem is starting over with new employers so you build up at one employer but lose it when you change jobs.

Some vacation numbers.

24% of private industry workers in the US receive no paid vacation.

Average number of days based on years service with employer:

1-5 years 10 days
5-10 years 14 days
10-20 years 17 days
20+years 19 days.

Would love to hear from other countries plus what you all think is reasonable.

First, I think any employee should be able to take off 4 weeks per year of unpaid vacation. Beyond that it should be negotiable. I've always been of the opinion that everything you get including your salary is part of a compensation package. Let's say you have a job that pays $208,000 per year. Every week of vacation costs the employee $4,000. So, 4 weeks of vacation would be $16,000 of his salary. In reality it would be far less than $16K as a good part of it would have been paid in federal and state (maybe) income taxes. Dose the employee want health insurance? We have a real nice group healthcare plan that you can buy with pretax dollars for $10,000. So, we'll take $26,000 off your salary for healthcare and vacation time. Before you say I'm a cold cruel employer, has is it any different than offering the job for $182,000 and it comes with free healthcare and 4 weeks of paid vacation?

Frankly, the whole notion of paid sick leave, personal days, maternity leave, paid vacation, and any other excuse for being paid and not showing up for work is absurd. If you follow the simple notion that if an employee is not there, the boss has to pay someone else to do that job. An astute employer has to calculate that cost and factor it in when determining what the employee can be paid. IMO, it seems far more reasonable to tell an employee what time off costs, and let them take what they want. Have a friend who use to work for Dupont at the research facility. The Job came with 2 weeks of vacation. The employee could purchase 2 more weeks each year, simple and straight forward. Maybe I'm over estimating the intelligence of the average employee, but when the company says, "you've been with us 10 years, we're going to give you an extra 2 weeks of vacation this year". Maybe the employer should say it will cost us $8,000 to cover your position for the 2 weeks, would you prefer the money instead?

Ted

 

[Lou_tribal]

I my pay was 208k$ I would take 6 month vacation per year lol

L

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. OC. In my former life it was VERY rare that my fellow employees worked overtime. Straight salary. There were a couple of times when one could work OT on a strictly voluntary basis. When it came to compensation we were offered $$ or extra vacation based on our hourly wage. Most AFAIK took the vacation time because that was not taxed by government. So you were actually getting X% more depending on your tax bracket.

 

[BandB]

First, I think any employee should be able to take off 4 weeks per year of unpaid vacation. Beyond that it should be negotiable. I've always been of the opinion that everything you get including your salary is part of a compensation package. Let's say you have a job that pays $208,000 per year. Every week of vacation costs the employee $4,000. So, 4 weeks of vacation would be $16,000 of his salary. In reality it would be far less than $16K as a good part of it would have been paid in federal and state (maybe) income taxes. Dose the employee want health insurance? We have a real nice group healthcare plan that you can buy with pretax dollars for $10,000. So, we'll take $26,000 off your salary for healthcare and vacation time. Before you say I'm a cold cruel employer, has is it any different than offering the job for $182,000 and it comes with free healthcare and 4 weeks of paid vacation?

Frankly, the whole notion of paid sick leave, personal days, maternity leave, paid vacation, and any other excuse for being paid and not showing up for work is absurd. If you follow the simple notion that if an employee is not there, the boss has to pay someone else to do that job. An astute employer has to calculate that cost and factor it in when determining what the employee can be paid. IMO, it seems far more reasonable to tell an employee what time off costs, and let them take what they want. Have a friend who use to work for Dupont at the research facility. The Job came with 2 weeks of vacation. The employee could purchase 2 more weeks each year, simple and straight forward. Maybe I'm over estimating the intelligence of the average employee, but when the company says, "you've been with us 10 years, we're going to give you an extra 2 weeks of vacation this year". Maybe the employer should say it will cost us $8,000 to cover your position for the 2 weeks, would you prefer the money instead?

Ted

Your point is valid that it all comes with a cost. If every part of the compensation package and methods was readjusted to a different framework, It could work. However, increasing compensation and having employees then pay also has a problem within our tax system and would increase the taxes. Your question of whether $208k and pay for benefits is different than $182k plus vacation and healthcare is the same. No, tax wise the $208k plan costs more.

I do believe work hours should be limited and some amount of time off required. I would not support a plan that allowed the employees to never take vacation. Studies have shown the harm to both the employee and employer.

Now, part of what you're suggesting is consistent with "cafeteria benefits plans" which have been tried. There you have x dollars to use among all possible benefits in whatever way you wish.

Unpaid vacation is something that even if allowed would hurt employees in most companies if they did it. It would be interpreted as a lack of commitment to their job.

Part of the issue of time off is under staffing. Lack of capable backups. Companies are often not staffed adequately to handle the work when people are off. You return from vacation two weeks behind and it all piled up.

Companies also need to know their employees well enough to know which benefits mean the most to them and which mean very little. I've seen companies gear plans to their executives and have plans that didn't work at all for the rank and file. The problem is you're designing a plan for such a diverse group. Our plans cover many hundreds of workers making $15-20/hour ($30k-40k per year), a much smaller group making $60k-120k and a relatively small group making $200k and above. Our plans very much target the $30k-40k worker. They're the ones who can't afford large deductions and can't afford to lose pay checks to sickness or injury or to hurricanes or to family tragedy.

Interesting too things employers can do in many countries that they cannot do in the US. The biggest if providing fringe benefits that are tax deductible for the employer but are not taxable to the employee. Automobiles, vacations, other things. In the US those things are all taxable to employees and many of them are not even tax deductible for the employer.

 

[latravcha]

I have worked for the same company for the last 15 years and only get 2 weeks of vacation a year. One week is normally spent in the Bahamas Out Islands and the other is used a day at a time to go to my daughters softball tournaments. I'm on salary with no over time or comp time for having to work overtime or weekends. I'm on call 2 to 3 weekend out of the month.
I have asked if I could take off additional time and it be deducted from my salary and have been told NO multiple times.
I make a good salary and my wife does a little better than I do. Most of my salary goes towards our retirement.
My daughters will be starting college about the time I turn 55 so after that I plan on retiring.

 

[MurrayM]

I have worked for the same company for the last 15 years and only get 2 weeks of vacation a year. One week is normally spent in the Bahamas Out Islands and the other is used a day at a time to go to my daughters softball tournaments. I'm on salary with no over time or comp time for having to work overtime or weekends. I'm on call 2 to 3 weekend out of the month.
I have asked if I could take off additional time and it be deducted from my salary and have been told NO multiple times.
I make a good salary and my wife does a little better than I do. Most of my salary goes towards our retirement.
My daughters will be starting college about the time I turn 55 so after that I plan on retiring.

Egad. Incentive bonuses? Is the salary high enough to make up for it? (Don't have to answer if you don't want to...just curious)

 

[BandB]

Egad. Incentive bonuses? Is the salary high enough to make up for it? (Don't have to answer if you don't want to...just curious)

Unfortunately quite typical of many US employers. Less holidays than you're use to as well.