Employees with kids get to take time off more often...

[AMCRambler]

Anybody else bothered by the fact if you have kids your employer is more likely to give you time off for things that really aren't a necessity? I know where I work, the people with kids always get to take time to go see their kids in a play or some lame graduation ceremony. Most of the time if the person has been working long days or whatever, the supervisor tells them not even to mark it down on their time sheets as they are just recouping the time they've put in but did not get pad for being on salary. Ordinarily I'd be fine with this but there's a double standard. I work just as hard as these working parents, bust my butt and work long days. I asked the same supervisor to leave two hours early to go finish Christmas shopping the Friday before Christmas and he tells me no, I could take a half day of vacation but that's it. Man was I cheesed. I'd been working 12 hour days trying to help get an understaffed project done on time just to get crapped on like that. Not to mention several call outs in the middle of the night requiring me to come to work to fix them and be at work by 8 the next morning. Just wow. I even mentioned this but said supervisor didn't care. Now if I had a kid and had to go on a field trip or something, that would have been acceptable.
I understand being a parent is rough. You're responsible for the welfare of another person who is absolutely dependent on you. But does that make your time any more valuable than another persons? I wouldn't think so. That sure de-motivated me from bustin' my butt for them though. Why work 12 hour days if I was never going to be reimbursed or even get a fraction of my time back? Same goes for emergency call outs in the middle of the night. Where's my motivation to answer the pages? That was the first time and the last time I ever asked for any kind of accomodation ever again. Anybody else experience things like this at their work place? This is the article that got me thinking about it.

Linky

Ok I'm done whining, your turn!

 

[se7en]

1/10

Easy answer to all your problems go knock someone up.

And yes my time is more valuable than someone else's regardless of wether I have kids or not.

And yes I will take time off for field trips, plays or whatever and if work isn't flexible enough to work with me then someone else will be working 14 hours a day because I won't be there for sure.

I do however understand your point but like I said in this age its pretty easy to hit a bar and come out with a kid 9months later.

PS. You also get 6weeks off at most places now too wether your the mom or dad.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: se7en
1/10

Easy answer to all your problems go knock someone up.

And yes my time is more valuable than someone else's regardless of wether I have kids or not.

And yes I will take time off for field trips, plays or whatever and if work isn't flexible enough to work with me then someone else will be working 14 hours a day because I won't be there for sure.

I do however understand your point but like I said in this age its pretty easy to hit a bar and come out with a kid 9months later.

PS. You also get 6weeks off at most places now too wether your the mom or dad.

wow...
how do you figure your time is more valuable than the time of another person?

 

[DougK62]

If you want that time off you just need a better excuse. Just say it's for 'medical reasons' and you'll be fine.

 

[mh47g]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
Anybody else bothered by the fact if you have kids your employer is more likely to give you time off for things that really aren't a necessity? I know where I work, the people with kids always get to take time to go see their kids in a play or some lame graduation ceremony. Most of the time if the person has been working long days or whatever, the supervisor tells them not even to mark it down on their time sheets as they are just recouping the time they've put in but did not get pad for being on salary. Ordinarily I'd be fine with this but there's a double standard. I work just as hard as these working parents, bust my butt and work long days. I asked the same supervisor to leave two hours early to go finish Christmas shopping the Friday before Christmas and he tells me no, I could take a half day of vacation but that's it. Man was I cheesed. I'd been working 12 hour days trying to help get an understaffed project done on time just to get crapped on like that. Not to mention several call outs in the middle of the night requiring me to come to work to fix them and be at work by 8 the next morning. Just wow. I even mentioned this but said supervisor didn't care. Now if I had a kid and had to go on a field trip or something, that would have been acceptable.
I understand being a parent is rough. You're responsible for the welfare of another person who is absolutely dependent on you. But does that make your time any more valuable than another persons? I wouldn't think so. That sure de-motivated me from bustin' my butt for them though. Why work 12 hour days if I was never going to be reimbursed or even get a fraction of my time back? Same goes for emergency call outs in the middle of the night. Where's my motivation to answer the pages? That was the first time and the last time I ever asked for any kind of accomodation ever again. Anybody else experience things like this at their work place? This is the article that got me thinking about it.

Linky

Ok I'm done whining, your turn!

Welcome to the real world. Please keep all limbs inside the vehicle until it comes to a complete stop.

 

[imported_nerve]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: se7en
1/10

Easy answer to all your problems go knock someone up.

And yes my time is more valuable than someone else's regardless of wether I have kids or not.

And yes I will take time off for field trips, plays or whatever and if work isn't flexible enough to work with me then someone else will be working 14 hours a day because I won't be there for sure.

I do however understand your point but like I said in this age its pretty easy to hit a bar and come out with a kid 9months later.

PS. You also get 6weeks off at most places now too wether your the mom or dad.

wow...
how do you figure your time is more valuable than the time of another person?

Because his post count is now over 1k

 

[waggy]

yawn.

 

[Tiamat]

employees who smoke get to take "breaks" during the day unlike non-smokers.

 

[TheKub]

Step 1: Borrow neighbors baby
Step 2: ????
Step 3: Time off!

 

[mooglemania85]

You forgot to mention the tax breaks you get if you're married, have kids, etc.

You pretty much take it us the ass if you're the head of the household and have no spouse or other dependents.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
employees who smoke get to take "breaks" during the day unlike non-smokers.

that one really pisses me off.

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Tiamat
employees who smoke get to take "breaks" during the day unlike non-smokers.

that one really pisses me off.

Not so much here. We get a 15 minute coffee break in the am. If you're a smoker it's kind of the unwritten rule that you don't take that cofee break in the am but rather split it up into 5 minute smoke breaks during the day. Or do the same with time from your lunch.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

The reason for PTO should not matter. If you have accrued enough PTO, and want to take time off, then you should be able to take it (exceptions: deadline for a project looming, other co-workers already out, et cetra). More and more HR Depts are following this standard.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Easy answer, if it really matters to you do what you want or quit. *shrug* Kids do matter more than work. Being a part of a child's life is infinitely more important than the continued existence of every corporation in the world. That doesn't mean they should necessarily get special treatment of course. Instead they should just be willing to quit rather than miss out on something truly important...just like you should be willing to quit if you can't get the amount of time off you would like.

During the summer I have my daughter with me, so I can't work as much as I can the rest of the year. I told my current boss at hire that I would be taking time off, and if that wasn't ok they shouldn't hire me. They did anyway. From June through August I took 18 full days off, and another 10 days I left early. I don't feel the least bit bad about it. If they'd objected they were always welcome to fire me. If anyone else objected they were free to quit. Because this was discussed openly there was no tension over the issue.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: Tiamat
employees who smoke get to take "breaks" during the day unlike non-smokers.

that one really pisses me off.

Not so much here. We get a 15 minute coffee break in the am. If you're a smoker it's kind of the unwritten rule that you don't take that cofee break in the am but rather split it up into 5 minute smoke breaks during the day. Or do the same with time from your lunch.

wow...sounds like your smokers are the exception...it's not like that at the jobs i used to work at.

 

[Wapp]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
You forgot to mention the tax breaks you get if you're married, have kids, etc.

You pretty much take it us the ass if you're the head of the household and have no spouse or other dependents.

I worked for a Staff SGT when I was in the air force that had something like 6 kids. He told me made around 10k when he filed his taxes.

 

[KB]

Thats not really an issue where I have worked. My bosses usually gives everyone a chance to leave early on occasion for any reason as long as you don't abuse it. Does your boss have young kids? If so then he is more likely to allow people with kids to take off. You should say you have to see your young nephews piano recital next time you want to leave.

Also Christmas shopping is not the same as seeing a graduation ceremony. This coming from a guy who doesn't have kids. Make up better excuses next time: Like "Ouch My liver hurts" while you hold your elbow.

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: nerve
Because his post count is now over 1k

Sweet I didn't even notice now I truly do have instant creditability.

But yeah my time is more important because I do important things with it such as visit ATOT.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: KB
Thats not really an issue where I have worked. My bosses usually gives everyone a chance to leave early on occasion for any reason as long as you don't abuse it. Does your boss have young kids? If so then he is more likely to allow people with kids to take off. You should say you have to see your young nephews piano recital next time you want to leave.

Also Christmas shopping is not the same as seeing a graduation ceremony. This coming from a guy who doesn't have kids. Make up better excuses next time: Like "Ouch My liver hurts" while you hold your elbow.

yeah, but in this case it sounds like he had a good bit of comp. time, which shouldn't matter what you use it for, unless they don't allow comp. time.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
You forgot to mention the tax breaks you get if you're married, have kids, etc.

You pretty much take it us the ass if you're the head of the household and have no spouse or other dependents.

It's a marriage tax PENALTY. Not a Marriage tax bonus.

The lower income automatically gets taxed at the rate of the higher income. You aren't saving money in taxes by getting married.

Plus with kids it's a $1000 a year credit per kid. I'm shopping out daycare right now for an infant and it's $1000 A MONTH. Yes. A month. That's just for daycare. Not clothes. Not healthcare. Not toys/furniture. Just for care M-F from 8:00-5:00.

18 years of the credit will only cover the first 18 months of care.

Obviously the answer is "well don't have one then!". Think of it like this - how much are you paying a year in taxes right now? If it's more than $1000 then the Government is coming out ahead by offering your parents a finanical incentive to have you.

 

[meltdown75]

Yes, it is the same where I work.

No, it doesn't bother me. It's encouraging to see them get a little extra time for their family.

 

[nageov3t]

if it bothers you that much, talk to your boss about it.

the head of my department almost gave someone a sweet ass M-F, 9-5 schedule because they had a kid... I threatened to walk if someone with 3 years less seniority than me was working that schedule while I was still on nights/weekend.

now I work M-F, 9-5 (though so as to not me a douche, I cover for other guy pretty much whenever he needs it)

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
You forgot to mention the tax breaks you get if you're married, have kids, etc.

You pretty much take it us the ass if you're the head of the household and have no spouse or other dependents.

It's a marriage tax PENALTY. Not a Marriage tax bonus.

The lower income automatically gets taxed at the rate of the higher income. You aren't saving money in taxes by getting married.

Plus with kids it's a $1000 a year credit per kid. I'm shopping out daycare right now for an infant and it's $1000 A MONTH. Yes. A month. That's just for daycare. Not clothes. Not healthcare. Not toys/furniture. Just for care M-F from 8:00-5:00.

18 years of the credit will only cover the first 18 months of care.

Obviously the answer is "well don't have one then!". Think of it like this - how much are you paying a year in taxes right now? If it's more than $1000 then the Government is coming out ahead by offering your parents a finanical incentive to have you.

$1000 a month?!?! wow, thats expensive!

 

[se7en]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Plus with kids it's a $1000 a year credit per kid. I'm shopping out daycare right now for an infant and it's $1000 A MONTH. Yes. A month. That's just for daycare. Not clothes. Not healthcare. Not toys/furniture. Just for care M-F from 8:00-5:00.

18 years of the credit will only cover the first 18 months of care.

Obviously the answer is "well don't have one then!". Think of it like this - how much are you paying a year in taxes right now? If it's more than $1000 then the Government is coming out ahead by offering your parents a finanical incentive to have you.

I get more thank 1k back for having a kid since you will probably be claiming them as a dependant. Actually its about 4 times that with the various write offs related to child care and thats before I even take my wife into account.

And 1k a month for childcare is A.) Very expensive B.) Will be probably double for a child under 6months old. I pay 130 a week for my 18month old.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: mooglemania85
You forgot to mention the tax breaks you get if you're married, have kids, etc.

You pretty much take it us the ass if you're the head of the household and have no spouse or other dependents.

It's a marriage tax PENALTY. Not a Marriage tax bonus.

The lower income automatically gets taxed at the rate of the higher income. You aren't saving money in taxes by getting married.

Plus with kids it's a $1000 a year credit per kid. I'm shopping out daycare right now for an infant and it's $1000 A MONTH. Yes. A month. That's just for daycare. Not clothes. Not healthcare. Not toys/furniture. Just for care M-F from 8:00-5:00.

18 years of the credit will only cover the first 18 months of care.

Obviously the answer is "well don't have one then!". Think of it like this - how much are you paying a year in taxes right now? If it's more than $1000 then the Government is coming out ahead by offering your parents a finanical incentive to have you.

$1000 a month?!?! wow, thats expensive!

Admittedly it's the BMW of child care. They aren't based in somebodies home or in the basement of a church. Plus it's newborn care which is about twice as expensive as a 3 year old.