Vacation allocation duped

[cgyITguy]

Feeling slightly deceived. I started with a new company in October who poached me from a competitor company. One of the most important factors for me was vacation time which i made clear, I needed to still be at 3 weeks/year, as well I was going on a vacation in December that was already booked. The new company said no problem on both accounts. Fastforward to April (now), and I requested a day off later this year which I figured was no big deal as i had only used 8 days. I was told I have no more vacation allowed this year as they dont allow employees to take vacation in the first year. (although i can take unpaid if i want). Not only that I only have 7 remaining days for next years vacation as i used 8 days for the December trip which they said was an exception that they allowed me. I don't know if this was just a massive miscommunication or if i was just told what I wanted to hear to come on board. I was fully expecting 3 weeks in my first year, 3 weeks in the next year and every year just as I've always had it. Not what it will end up being 1.5 weeks first year and 1.5 weeks second year. What I find odd is they have no problem with me taking time as long as its unpaid, they would still owe me the money accrued in vacation pay since day 1 anyway so why would it matter to them as long as i dont go over what has actually been earned ?

Probably my own fault for not getting this crystal clear in writing, it was just verbally implied at the time that none of that would be an issue

[BrknFngrs]

Have you talked directly to the person that hired you? Maybe it's just a simple misunderstanding.

Also, no vacation in the first year is pretty old school; most places I've seen just let you start accruing it monthly when you start regardless of when in the year it is.

[dirtsniffer]

Ya that's annoying.

[HiTempguy1]

You said you wanted 3 weeks, you probably have three weeks accept you didn't acrue any in the "1st" fiscal year you have worked for them.

So yea, you certainly didn't do your "due diligence". If it isn't in writing, it doesn't mean shit.

But on top of that, did you specifically talk to the person who hired you? Have you filed a complaint/inquiry with HR?

And finally, why would you want to work for a.company that would f&%k you around like that? It may be time to.start searching for a different job if that is how they treat their employees. There isn't much more valuable to myself than vacation time!

[killramos]

+1

Dicking around with people vacation time, whether they have the right to or not, is a stupid move that doesn't even really benefit the company in any appreciable way.

Anywhere I have worked ( aside from hourly ) my prorated years worth of vacation ( ie start in June you get half the days, start in march you get 3/4 etc.) available the next day after starting obviously with manager discretion.

TBH i have also never been denied a time off request, probably because i don't take a half dozen sick days a year like some people do for every runny nose.

I have heard managers to other departments rib their junior guys on " well you shouldn't even be taking vacation at your age blah blah blah" imo its not funny, and tells alot of the kind of attitude they have.

[cgyITguy]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1
And finally, why would you want to work for a.company that would f&%k you around like that? It may be time to.start searching for a different job if that is how they treat their employees. There isn't much more valuable to myself than vacation time!

Well I do quite enjoy working for the company, normally i would be so pissed off I would dust off the resume right away. The ownership that runs it is in Edmonton, I get to work in the Calgary branch which is a nice place to work, although this makes me question a few things

[JRSC00LUDE]

Just politely and respectfully discuss the discrepancy with the person who hired you, there may be a reasonable explanation or breakdown in communication between departments.

If there isn't, remain polite and respectful and take a few days to evaluate your environment, move on if necessary or remain if it's a minor blip in your estimation.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Kijho]

Everything in writing - always.

[ercchry]

You don't start off with 3 weeks from day one... you earn it through out the year. So every 6 months you would be at 1.5 weeks... which means you already used your time up to now in dec. If you used the rest now then you will always be owing. Personally i dont see the issue, you DO have 3 weeks per year... thats what you asked for, thats what you got. Would you expect your entire salary paid out for the year on day one too?

[revelations]

Originally posted by cgyITguy
they dont allow employees to take vacation in the first year. (although i can take unpaid if i want).

Probably my own fault for not getting this crystal clear in writing, it was just verbally implied at the time that none of that would be an issue

That sounds like a bad place to work. Hope youre not planning on staying too long. Next youll be posting about how 1st years are "expected" to work unpaid OT.

[spike98]

Originally posted by ercchry
You don't start off with 3 weeks from day one...

Why not, i did? Without asking as well.

OP needs to talk it out with HR. As everyone else said, generally companies aren't in the business of fucking you over or tricking you to get you on board.

IF they are screwing you, abort mission.

[ercchry]

I doubt you started with 3 weeks... depending on the date you choose to leave on dont be surprised if you owe them money instead of getting paid your final cheque

[dirtsniffer]

Originally posted by ercchry
You don't start off with 3 weeks from day one... you earn it through out the year. So every 6 months you would be at 1.5 weeks... which means you already used your time up to now in dec. If you used the rest now then you will always be owing. Personally i dont see the issue, you DO have 3 weeks per year... thats what you asked for, thats what you got. Would you expect your entire salary paid out for the year on day one too?

Most places are use as acrued now. It's pretty lame that this place expects you to keep vacation in the bank until you quit, but it is what is it is. I think it is within their obligation.

At my company I have use as accrued with the option to go up to 40 hours in the deficit. I like this option. I have 3 weeks vacation so the deficit allowance would allow me to take two weeks in the summer if I wanted to. If I quit there is a chance I may have some clawback on my last check due to vacation but atleast I didn't have to wait a year to use vacation

[cgyITguy]

Originally posted by ercchry
You don't start off with 3 weeks from day one... you earn it through out the year. So every 6 months you would be at 1.5 weeks... which means you already used your time up to now in dec. If you used the rest now then you will always be owing. Personally i dont see the issue, you DO have 3 weeks per year... thats what you asked for, thats what you got. Would you expect your entire salary paid out for the year on day one too?

Not quite, because they are not allowing me to use it as I earn it because they want to enforce the "no vacation for first year thing" So after I have worked say 11 months, I would mathematically have a few more days this year to take, they won't let me take those until next year. Then the worst part is next year I only have 7 days left for the ENTIRE year because they say i used 8 when I first started. So basically I have 0 vacation left until October 2015 and then only 7 more days until October 2016.

[Feruk]

Originally posted by ercchry
I doubt you started with 3 weeks... depending on the date you choose to leave on dont be surprised if you owe them money instead of getting paid your final cheque

Every job I've had, I started with all the vacation available on the first day of the year. The accruals only mattered if I had resigned.

[turbotrip]

Does ur employment contract not clearly specify the number of vacation days you are entitled to?

[Pacman]

Originally posted by turbotrip
Does ur employment contract not clearly specify the number of vacation days you are entitled to?

As stated, have a look at your employment letter contract. Does it state you can't take vacation in the first year? Does it indicate how many days you have? Does it describe the policy about not being able to use vacation days until they are accrued?

If it doesn't have it in writing, then I would be challenging what you are being told.

[cgyITguy]

I just pulled out the hiring document, turns out it doesn't even mention a year!

It says: "you have up to three weeks ordinary vacation each year; no ordinary vacation may be taken during the first 6 months, including the probationary period, of employment;"

They verbally said they would make an exception to allow me to go in December which they did. Now it has been 6 months later we should be all square on that. I see nothing in here to say that I can't take vacation as accrued now!!

[ExtraSlow]

This sucks. It does appear to be very company specific. I have worked for places where you get all your vacation on Jan 1, and others where you accrue it throughout the year.
My wife had a job where she got zero vacation in her first year. That really sucked.