I have a question about what's considered "standard" in today's work

[Upthevibe]

environment: Do employers normally give two weeks vacation after one year? I realize, of course, there are many variables but I'd just appreciate some general feedback. I know a lot it depends on the industry. Let's just say I'm talking about a middle size company in middle america at, let's say, a real estate company....

[CrispyQ]

1. I haven't been a corporate employee in 10 years, but when I was,

generally you started earning vacation hours every pay period, calculated at a rate that equals 2 weeks per year. In the companies I worked for, you could use those hours as soon as you had at least 4 on the books. That was the minimum number of vacation hours you could take.

[Upthevibe]

5. Thank you...

that's what I was thinking...

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. I'm going to be snarky...all these right-to-work states...are just right-to-work for less....

I have been retired 20 years..OMG, i'm old..wait...30 years with major telco...mid-sized companies..I wouldn't know about that....

Todays decision applies ONLY to Govt workers....see where this is going...freeloaders bite their nose to spite their face...so they want representation without paying for it...be careful what you wish for -

[MontanaMama]

3. In my experience,

I worked in a high end/cosmetic dental practice for 21 years and got no paid vacation time. No sick time or insurance either but that's a long story. I left that job and went to work at Liberty Mutual Insurance - in a workers compensation claim office and we got 10 days of PTO (paid time off) after the first year that could be used however the employee chose. I now work at a business that my husband and I own...we employ 7 people and we offer a week paid vacation after one year and two weeks paid vacation after 3 years in addition to flex time, health insurance and 401K. I know a couple of folks who work for realty companies and they basically work as independent contractors and their company doesn't give them vacation or any other benefits.

[Upthevibe]

6. I know there are so many different experiences

that folks have. That's a bummer about working for the company for 21 years w/nothing....The office at the claims company sounds about what I thought was somewhat typical. It sounds like you & your husband offer some nice benefits to your employees.

[fleur-de-lisa]

4. In my experience in professional offices

the standard is a total of 3 weeks leave (1 week sick leave, 2 weeks vacation) and it usually kicks in after 6 months of employment.

I worked at a large, nationwide consulting firm about 10 years ago that had a variable schedule depending on your overall experience and your time with that firm. I had a total of 4 weeks leave while there that I could use anyway I wanted.

Now I work for a very tiny firm and I am back to a total of 3 weeks.

[Upthevibe]

7. Yes. I was thinking 1 week of sick time and 2 weeks

vacation is kind of common....Thank you.

[smirkymonkey]

8. Vacation policy in the US just sucks.

I am fairly lucky. I work for a large Fortune 100 Company and we got 2 weeks, 5 sick days, 3 personal days and all paid holidays the first year. After 5 years it goes up to 3 weeks, 10 years 4 weeks, 15 years 5 weeks and after 20 6 weeks. Same amount of sick and personal days. I broke my arm one year and could take ST Disability where I got 80% of my pay when I was out for a month. You can also buy a week or two of vacation (I forgot which), and the money comes out of your check every pay period.

[NNadir]

9. I once worked for the US Office of a French company.

I started with three weeks vacation, and added a day each year I worked there.

I worked there almost 9 years.

I used to accumulate about 50,000 - 60,000 frequent flyer miles per year.

My oldest son, when he was a toddler, used to sit in a baby car seat in First Class, and didn't fly coach until he was 5 or 6.

Sigh...

But you know, I paid for it in many ways, I paid for it. The job was very stressful. Sometimes I was gone from home for weeks at a time. I had all this pressure, all the time. One time I was in scrubs taking my kid into surgery and I was on the damned cell phone talking with some guys in France.

My current boss knows I'm working all the time. When I want a couple of days off, I just send him an email.

I'm never really "off" off though. I have had to have conference calls, or take calls from work when I'm off though.

I can't say I really take "vacations" any more. Usually when I take a day off, it's for some logistical thing for my kids. Between Christmas and New Year's, I might work a day or two, but I really don't go anywhere, save a day trip with the wife and kids to a museum in New York or Philadelphia.

My wife works harder than I do and both my sons work incredibly hard, albeit in academics.

We are privileged though. We have something to do. One of the worst tortures used on people - it was a favorite of Stalin/Beria - is to put someone somewhere with nothing to do, no books, no talking, no media, no conversation.

In my case, I'm aware of running out of time on the planet. I want to do as much as I can before I die, when I'm formally working at my job, or when I'm working on my own projects.

Everything for me is leisure - exhausting leisure but leisure all the same - because I'm acutely aware of how wonderful it is to be alive.

[mythology]

10. I get about 4 weeks a year

But I work for a non-profit, so that may not be standard.