Job Negotiations - how unusual is it to negotiate extra vacation time?

[dderidex]

As above. Have an interesting job offer across the country, but they have a fairly static vacation policy - 2 weeks for first x years, 3 weeks after x years, etc. And you have to 'earn' your vacation - by the halfway point in the first year, you will only have 5 days.

I like the offer and position...but I'd REALLY need more vacation than that. An extra week to start with would be great.

Is this something....very rare to be able to negotiate into an offer? Common, but difficult? Easy as pie?

No experience - just wondering. (It's an IT position - software/database development)

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Yes, I'd like to know the answer to his question as well.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Its a negotiation. Make an offer. If they refuse... oh well. Of course... they might just pass you over and hire someone else too. But if you're that hung up on vacation time you didn't want the job anyway.

If you don't ask, the answer is always "no".

Edit: Should say that if vacation time is that important to you and they steadfastly stick to their policy... well, you know what I mean.

 

[dderidex]

Well that's certainly true, I suppose. I just didn't want to appear unreasonable. As it happens, it's an offer internal to a company, and they want me very much for the position.

I just don't know how that usually goes.

 

[OhioState]

You will never get somthing if you dont ask. No is the worst thing that can happen and thats not so bad.

 

[kranky]

An extra week of vacation is generally one of the easier things to negotiate, but keep in mind some companies are just ridiculously strict and won't bend.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: dderidex
Well that's certainly true, I suppose. I just didn't want to appear unreasonable. As it happens, it's an offer internal to a company, and they want me very much for the position.

I just don't know how that usually goes.

Generally things like vacation time are negotiated by a labor relations management contract, or union as such... regardless if your in the union, your bound to those terms.
Unless your being hired as a middle manager or higher... its never going to happen.

 

[AnandTech Moderator]

Did somebody say vacation?

 

[pclstyle]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
Did somebody say vacation?

:sun:

 

[woowoo]

Not here
Here=State Govt.

 

[FoBoT]

if you are asking for something you have in your current position, then i think you should try


if you are straight out of college and this is your first job, then no, that wouldn't be appropriate


but if for example you have been in the XYZ industry for 15 years and worked at 2 companies and have been in your current position for 8 years and currently get 3 weeks vacation, then i think you could ask to start at the new company with comparable vacation

 

[darkxshade]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
Did somebody say vacation?

lol, he wants extra vacation time, I think you should oblige

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
Did somebody say vacation?

lol

-=bmacd=-

 

[BlueFlamme]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Not here
Here=State Govt.

Fed Govt FTW.

13 paid holidays plus 20 days (4 weeks) after 3 years.

You starting with 13 days, go up to 20 in 3 years, and max at 26 after 15 years (too bad I still have another 10 years until that)

 

[farmercal]

Negotiating is free. They will say no if the won't give it to you. I have been given an offer for employment and I think they should have offered me more but for this area their offer is probably a good offer. I might try to negotiate a higher salary.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Not here
Here=State Govt.

yep me too...every year
11 paid holidays
13 sick days

plus vacation time
year 1= 8 days
year 2 = 9 days
year 3 = 11 days
year 4 = 19 days
year 15 = 24 days
year 25 = 30 days

 

[xrax]

sick days are just like vacation days

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: xrax
sick days are just like vacation days

except that you cant use them without a doctors excuse

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: dderidex
Well that's certainly true, I suppose. I just didn't want to appear unreasonable. As it happens, it's an offer internal to a company, and they want me very much for the position.

I just don't know how that usually goes.

Generally things like vacation time are negotiated by a labor relations management contract, or union as such... regardless if your in the union, your bound to those terms.
Unless your being hired as a middle manager or higher... its never going to happen.

I find with unions it's even more difficult to negotiate. It's often based on seniority, and the lowest person on the rung only get the left overs.

 

[olds]

State Government
Been here 16 years
Each month:
14 hours vacation
8 hours sick leave
14 paid holidays
I also can and do earn 75 hours of CTO (Compensated Time Off in lieu of overtime)
We can carry over 640 hours of vacation from year to year and unlimited sick leave.
When I retire I can cash in 2000 hours of sick leave and get an extra year of service credit.
I can also take my 640 hours of vacation as I retire to carry me into another quarter for higher retirement benefits.

But, I am under paid. You have to take the good with the bad.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
State Government
Been here 16 years
Each month:
14 hours vacation
8 hours sick leave
14 paid holidays
I also can and do earn 75 hours of CTO (Compensated Time Off in lieu of overtime)
We can carry over 640 hours of vacation from year to year and unlimited sick leave.
When I retire I can cash in 2000hours of sick leave and get an extra year of service credit.
I can also take my 640 hours of vacation as I retire to carry me into another quarter for higher retirement benefits.

But, I am under paid. You have to take the good with the bad.

Yeah... we can accumulate up to 45 days vacation time carryover at years end, and 300 sick days. Upon retireement, you recieve 100% compensation for all unused vacation, and 50% of unused sick time. nice little retirement gift to look foreward to.
O plus...

All Jury duty / Court days / Promotion Interviews / Dontating Blood are leave with full pay days.

 

[SuperFreaky]

I would say it depends on the size of the company. A larger corporate environment will probably have stricter (set in stone) policies, where as a smaller startup could have more leniency on this.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
State Government
Been here 16 years
Each month:
14 hours vacation
8 hours sick leave
14 paid holidays
I also can and do earn 75 hours of CTO (Compensated Time Off in lieu of overtime)
We can carry over 640 hours of vacation from year to year and unlimited sick leave.
When I retire I can cash in 2000hours of sick leave and get an extra year of service credit.
I can also take my 640 hours of vacation as I retire to carry me into another quarter for higher retirement benefits.

But, I am under paid. You have to take the good with the bad.

Yeah... we can accumulate up to 45 days vacation time carryover at years end, and 300 sick days. Upon retireement, you recieve 100% compensation for all unused vacation, and 50% of unused sick time. nice little retirement gift to look foreward to.
O plus...

All Jury duty / Court days / Promotion Interviews / Dontating Blood are leave with full pay days.

I don't get the blood donation days but I get the others too. Also court days if I have to testify. And, if I move for a promotion they pay for the move.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
State Government
Been here 16 years
Each month:
14 hours vacation
8 hours sick leave
14 paid holidays
I also can and do earn 75 hours of CTO (Compensated Time Off in lieu of overtime)
We can carry over 640 hours of vacation from year to year and unlimited sick leave.
When I retire I can cash in 2000hours of sick leave and get an extra year of service credit.
I can also take my 640 hours of vacation as I retire to carry me into another quarter for higher retirement benefits.

But, I am under paid. You have to take the good with the bad.

Yeah... we can accumulate up to 45 days vacation time carryover at years end, and 300 sick days. Upon retireement, you recieve 100% compensation for all unused vacation, and 50% of unused sick time. nice little retirement gift to look foreward to.
O plus...

All Jury duty / Court days / Promotion Interviews / Dontating Blood are leave with full pay days.

I don't get the blood donation days but I get the others too. Also court days if I have to testify. And, if I move for a promotion they pay for the move.

After doing more reading... DAM
volunteer fireman and emt's get full leave with pay if they are called away from work here to go to an emergency....

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Its a negotiation. Make an offer. If they refuse... oh well. Of course... they might just pass you over and hire someone else too. But if you're that hung up on vacation time you didn't want the job anyway.

If you don't ask, the answer is always "no".

Edit: Should say that if vacation time is that important to you and they steadfastly stick to their policy... well, you know what I mean.

QFT

To the OP,

Is this your first job or not? If it is, then vacation time isn't really the most important aspect when choosing a job (a perk yes, but not a deal breaker). Job security, ability to move up in the company, amount of pay, skills used and perfected in the job are more important in the long run than a few extra days off.