What's your take on annual leave?

[Tyler Durden]

My colleagues were surprised to learn the other day that I have 8 weeks of annual leave saved up. My mindset is that that is the minimum level I want to keep it at, as if I ever leave my job, I would like a pay out. My mindset also is that using up your leave during a year should be done sparingly.

However, obviously others differ, as some in my office encouraged me to take a month off every year, and I even think in the past a politician encouraged the same in an attempt to boost domestic tourism.

So due to the differing views, just thought it'd be interesting to see how others here view their annual leave? Do you use it all up, or do you keep a minimum for a rainy day?

 

[DocK]

Husband and I are self-employed, so a different perspective I guess. We work in an industry that more-or-less shuts down over the Xmas/New Year period, so our employees don't really have much choice but to take at least 2 weeks leave at that time. The lead-up to Xmas is our busiest period so generally we're all well and truly ready for a break by then. Unfortunately this is also the peak period for most domestic tourism areas so going away becomes more expensive than mid-year breaks - which can be difficult to fit in sometimes.

I do think it is important to take some time away from work annually if possible, to de-stress and give the mind and body a change of scene. I can see why it would be desirable for some to have a buffer in case of unexpected unemployment etc, but I would think that working more than a couple of years without an extended break would take a toll on most people.

 

[Smurf1976]

Personally I think the whole concept of "annual" leave is outdated in the extreme. I mean, life is for living, you work to live not live to work, and for most people they're going to need at least two or three periods of leave each year in order to attend interstate events, have an extended Easter or whatever.

I've been known to do 100 hours in a week and between Long Service and Recreation leave I'd have about 150 days in total saved up. I'm certainly willing to work and do my bit (I'm working this long weekend...). Likewise I haven't had a sick day for a few years now and only ever take them when genuinely sick.

But if anyone comes up with some plan to force the taking of leave in one extended break rather than several times a year then I'll either be ignoring it or resigning. I'm paid reasonably well, but not enough to justify missing out on the things I'd miss out on if that were the case.

Had a few days off last October and anther few days in November, both for completely different reasons. Worked over Christmas and New Year (on-call 24/7). Had a few days off very recently and went to Adelaide. Planning No doubt I'll be taking at least a couple of more short breaks during the year. I always do things whilst on holiday, hence the timing needs to suit when those things are happening.

 

[sptrawler]

My colleagues were surprised to learn the other day that I have 8 weeks of annual leave saved up. My mindset is that that is the minimum level I want to keep it at, as if I ever leave my job, I would like a pay out. My mindset also is that using up your leave during a year should be done sparingly.

However, obviously others differ, as some in my office encouraged me to take a month off every year, and I even think in the past a politician encouraged the same in an attempt to boost domestic tourism.

So due to the differing views, just thought it'd be interesting to see how others here view their annual leave? Do you use it all up, or do you keep a minimum for a rainy day?

It's a very personal thing, I know guys that have 2000hrs and I know guys that in the same jpb have none, with the same amount of service.
Some may have double income no kids and holiday all the time, others may be nearing retirement and have adult children living at home with disabilities. Two completely different scenarios requiring two different stratergies.
Everyone is different, everyone lives with their choices.

 

[Eager]

I have about 500 hours saved up, so if I wanted to, I could take about 6 weeks every year between now and retirement. I had a week off in January, took a day off yesterday to give me a 5 day Labour Day weekend with an RDO, I will take another single day on Tuesday 24th of April to give me another 5 day weekend including RDO and Anzac day, and I intend to take 4 weeks of long service in October for a rambling road trip and a week in Noosa. And, I am fully intending to apply for the days off between Xmas and New Years this year, and I should get it, since it is well and truly my turn!

Our arrangement at work is a little different in that we work a 72 hour fortnight but only get paid 70, which means that we accrue an extra 2 hrs per fortnight besides our annual leave entitlement of 140 hrs. Long service leave also accumulates fortnightly but can only be taken after 10 years of service.

I agree with smurf in that the term annual leave is a bit of a misnomer nowadays. Perhaps it is still called that because our leave balance increases by a set amount annually?

 

[McLovin]

I used to rarely take my full annual leave (I was working in the UK for a few years so I had 6 weeks) but I insisted that if I was going to be be giving up my annual leave then I wanted the cash instead. It is money owed to you, afterall.

These days I pretty much work for myself so I take between 4 and 8 weeks off each year depending on how much travel I'm planning on doing.

 

[pixel]

Not only do circumstances differ from one person to the next; but they're also varying at different stages in one's life.
fwiw, when we had reasons/ incentives to occasionally visit folks back in the Old Country, my wife and I would save up two or three years' entitlements and take six or eight weeks off Overseas. That still left the odd week in between years for short R&R breaks.

At other times, we might go a year or two without private trips, but spend a fortnight here and there showing friends and family from abroad the beauty and vastness of Australia. Trying at the same time not to become too blase and visit regions that were new to us as well.

There were also times - e.g. 2 years in the Pilbara - that felt like two years of holidays because of 9-day fortnights and frequent trips between mine sites. When you really enjoy the job you're doing and make the most of time off, even the odd 50-hour week doesn't leave you exhausted the way a nine-to-five job in the city does - with two lots of peak hour traffic thrown in for good measure.

Contrariwise, when you're fed-up with stupid politicking and ignorant co-workers, even four weeks off don't provide enough R&R to matter a great deal; if that happens to be at a stage in your life when early retirement becomes an option, but finding a new job does not, one may well accumulate the odd extra week, throw in a long-service leave as a bonus, and pull the pin a year or two early. Whether you then take the leave as a lump sum pay-out or take it as paid leave becomes a matter of choice - possibly assisted by doing the sums for some alternative scenarios with your tax consultant.

Finally, as a sole trader - getting close to becoming the longest-lasting "career" in my life - it's a matter of "Will the ASX survive if I take a week or five off?" If SWMBO decrees she would like a change of scenery, I close out any open short-termers, turn the power off, security on, load the car, lock the door, and we drive. (And if I get a chance at the destination, I'll crank up the laptop to check what you guys have done to Ms Marquette while I wasn't looking. Maybe even login and give you a piece of my mind.) :

 

[Bill M]

My wife is still working, she has 2 and a half Months Long Service Leave and 6 Weeks annual leave up her sleeve but she is reluctant to waste it. Plans to retire next year and wants the $$$$ as a going out the door boost to the bank balance.

 

[breaker]

Pain in the ass I gotta pay a bloke to have 4 weeks off + 17 1/2 %

Then pay someone else to do his job ,so it costs me, no you twice as much.

same with public holidays Australia does'nt go back to work till after Easter

Our lifestyle will come to a sudden halt some time.

We are to well paid and have it to easy compaired to other countries.

Wait till Indian workers are flown in for mine labor, then shes buy buy to EB's

 

[sptrawler]

Wait till Indian workers are flown in for mine labor, then shes buy buy to EB's

I think there is a shock coming breaker. Apparently the government wants to relax the 457's further.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

People work waaaaay too much these days. It's absolutely amazing that we all still work the same hours we did in 1900 given that productivity has improved tremendously since then. The very very few have gotten extremely rich of the slavery of others.

My point is, everyone should take as much leave of all sorts available to them as possible. Some places you can take twice the annual leave for 1/2 the salary during your leave period. Sometimes you can even get unpaid leave. I would definitely do both.

 

[McLovin]

People work waaaaay too much these days. It's absolutely amazing that we all still work the same hours we did in 1900 given that productivity has improved tremendously since then.

Unlimited wants and limited resources will tend to do that...

 

[IFocus]

Not only do circumstances differ from one person to the next; but they're also varying at different stages in one's life.
fwiw, when we had reasons/ incentives to occasionally visit folks back in the Old Country, my wife and I would save up two or three years' entitlements and take six or eight weeks off Overseas. That still left the odd week in between years for short R&R breaks.

At other times, we might go a year or two without private trips, but spend a fortnight here and there showing friends and family from abroad the beauty and vastness of Australia. Trying at the same time not to become too blase and visit regions that were new to us as well.

There were also times - e.g. 2 years in the Pilbara - that felt like two years of holidays because of 9-day fortnights and frequent trips between mine sites. When you really enjoy the job you're doing and make the most of time off, even the odd 50-hour week doesn't leave you exhausted the way a nine-to-five job in the city does - with two lots of peak hour traffic thrown in for good measure.

Contrariwise, when you're fed-up with stupid politicking and ignorant co-workers, even four weeks off don't provide enough R&R to matter a great deal; if that happens to be at a stage in your life when early retirement becomes an option, but finding a new job does not, one may well accumulate the odd extra week, throw in a long-service leave as a bonus, and pull the pin a year or two early. Whether you then take the leave as a lump sum pay-out or take it as paid leave becomes a matter of choice - possibly assisted by doing the sums for some alternative scenarios with your tax consultant.

Finally, as a sole trader - getting close to becoming the longest-lasting "career" in my life - it's a matter of "Will the ASX survive if I take a week or five off?" If SWMBO decrees she would like a change of scenery, I close out any open short-termers, turn the power off, security on, load the car, lock the door, and we drive. (And if I get a chance at the destination, I'll crank up the laptop to check what you guys have done to Ms Marquette while I wasn't looking. Maybe even login and give you a piece of my mind.) :

From a purely investment outlook saving annual leave / long service leave is one of the better investments going from a grow perceptive as long as the company keeps paying pay rises or you move up in responsibility and salary.

Of course in the company goes to the wall you get burnt.

Personally have always taken leave as I would have blown up if I didn't. Would dearly loved to have had a career where I didn't need to take the break.

 

[waimate01]

Here's my take:

Work like hell in your early 20's. Go every extra mile and establish your rep. 25-30, making sure you're being paid appropriately but still go every extra mile. But from 30 on, ensure you take the time to smell the roses. And holidays are a big part of that.

Consider this: on average (over the life of the universe) you are dead. The brief period you are alive is kinda unusual, cosmically speaking. Also, think of all the people who were intercepted by the condom and never came to be. Aren't you lucky?

Now, given you're alive and it's wonderfully fortunate and fleetingly brief, are you honestly saying that the best; the VERY BEST thing you can think of to do with this time is chase dollars and pound square pegs into round holes? Live a little! By all means work as well, but try to optimise the relationship between the two to maximise the experience of your 80 years on earth.

No value in being the richest man in the cemetery, and I suspect not much fun living in a cardboard box. There's a sweet spot, and it's different for everyone. But don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Take the holiday. Stay somewhere nice. Fly business if you can.

It's entirely possible (gods forbid) that you'll suddenly find you've got some dreadful disease and be dead a year from now, and that year certainly won't be relaxed and cheerful. If you put things off, it's entirely possible to put them off too long. When you're in a position to spend your own money living life, do so.

Because tomorrow may never come. Indeed we are guaranteed one day it won't.

 

[Smurf1976]

Work like hell in your early 20's. Go every extra mile and establish your rep. 25-30, making sure you're being paid appropriately but still go every extra mile. But from 30 on, ensure you take the time to smell the roses. And holidays are a big part of that.

Get a job somewhere that offers extra shifts etc and get the mortgage out of the way.

Then spend the rest of your 30's and the rest of your life after that not too fussed about it all. Leave the fancy cars, expensive suits and heart attack at 40 to someone else.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

Unlimited wants and limited resources will tend to do that...

It's certainly not justifiable...imagine if everyone worked 20 hours? Unemployment instantly solved worldwide.

 

[McLovin]

It's certainly not justifiable...imagine if everyone worked 20 hours? Unemployment instantly solved worldwide.

As economies develop they become more serviced based. Labour is still the key component of the economy, what has changed is the value of a unit of labour in the economy.

If everyone worked 20 hours/week then peope would have 1/2 their current spending power. That doesn't sound like a great thing.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

As economies develop they become more serviced based. Labour is still the key component of the economy, what has changed is the value of a unit of labour in the economy.

I do not see how that changes anything.

 

[McLovin]

I do not see how that changes anything.

The premise of your argument is that there is a surplus of labour (ie if people worked 20 hours/week there would be no unemployment) because of productivity gains. I'm saying that is not true, those productivity gains have been passed to workers in the form of higher wages, increased benefits etc. In 1900, people didn't have holiday leave, long service leave, superannuation, a state pension, sick leave, wages anywhere near today's in real terms, unfair dismissal legislation, maternity leave, the eight hour day, penalty rates...I could keep going but you get the idea.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

The premise of your argument is that there is a surplus of labour (ie if people worked 20 hours/week there would be no unemployment) because of productivity gains. I'm saying that is not true, those productivity gains have been passed to workers in the form of higher wages, increased benefits etc. In 1900, people didn't have holiday leave, long service leave, superannuation, a state pension, sick leave, wages anywhere near today's in real terms, unfair dismissal legislation, maternity leave, the eight hour day, penalty rates...I could keep going but you get the idea.

That's not nearly enough compared to the growth of economic output per person.

There is no particular reason why there can't be a 20 hour working day which solves unemployment. Except of course it is against the vested interests of the rich and powerful.