Would you cash in a weeks vaction at work for the money?

[Donkey Hoatie]

We've got a every generous vacation policy here at work. Starts off at 2 weeks. After 3 years it goes to 3 weeks. At 10 years, it goes to 4 weeks. Then, every 5 years after that you get an extra week during your anniversary year. This is my 15 year anniversary, so I'm sitting at 5 weeks vacation (plus 5 personal days, 5 sick days, and 10 paid holidays). So, yeah, I'd cash in one of the weeks this year, but not in any other. Of course, because of the generous policy, this place is pretty stingy with pay. Still, I'm not complaining. For the last 12+ years, I've been able to take a week's vacation in the summer, 2 weeks off around X-mas, and still have a handful of days to burn throughout the remainder of the year. It's use-it-or-lose it, so I try to make sure it's all long gone.

[EmergencyIan]

I'd much rather have the vacation time. It's important to get away from work at least a couple of times per year.

- Ian

[madmarva]

I think it all goes back to how much vacation time you have. If you just have one or two weeks, I personally wouldn't sell any back, but if you had more, then I might consider it. Does the plan reimburse you at 100 percent of your hourly wage? Were' you planning to take 3-week vacation to Europe or Hawaii or wherever and selling the time back would mess that up.

So, I guess it all depends on the plan, your needs and your desires and also those of your bosses and the company. Obviously, the company can only encourage you to sell the time back, not force you. But if you have four weeks of vacation and the company really can't afford to have you off for that long, what would it do to your job security to take that much time off?