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- Wise Words -
Treat Unlimited Vacation Like
You Should Free Soda

by rob deichert

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So you've taken a job at a company with unlimited vacation.  Great, super terrific! You now have fantasies of traveling to Fantasy Island and all is well.  I hate to burst your bubble, but I will.

Unlimited vacation in the US has become a popular way for companies to manage their unpaid vacation liabilities.  What does this mean for you as an Early Stage Professional (ESP)?  When you work at a company that doesn’t have unlimited vacation or unlimited PTO (paid time off), you accrue vacation days as you work. If you don't take them before you leave, the company has to pay them out.  As an example at a past employer, I saw a few people leave with multiple month’s worth of vacation that had to be paid out.  I won’t get into the lack of tracking and the validity of these accruals.

Whether your vacation is unlimited or limited, you need to take accountability for using it to recharge and refresh and ensuring it doesn’t affect your work or your manager’s success.  

Nothing is free in this world.  You might have unlimited soda in the snack room, but drinking an unlimited amount would be unwise from a health perspective.  You can drink ten cans of sugary soda a day, but you might not like the results. If the soda costs outpace profits and revenue growth you’ll see them go away or be rationed.  Same applies for unlimited vacation.

The Manager's Perspective
Before I address unlimited vacation, let's cover how I look at vacation from a manager’s perspective. It’s a real cost to the company so I want to make sure it’s used in the proper way.  I’m going to pay for it either by someone taking vacation or when they leave.

Engaged, happy, healthy employees need to recharge.  It’s critical.  Full stop.  I find it hard to believe that a happy and engaged employee never needs to take a break.

When I ran some of my largest organizations I actively tracked vacation usage.  I wanted to know from each of my leaders how much vacation was used vs accrued.  For example, if 10 days were accrued and only 5 were taken, we were running at 50%.  This was critical for me because I didn’t want to get into a situation in Q4, our peak quarter, and become the grinch and tell people they couldn’t take vacation because it would impact our customers in a negative way.  Worse case I would have to grant them an extension into next year creating a never ending cycle.

The worst situation in my mind is a top performer who doesn’t think they can take vacation.  There can be a variety of root causes, but none of them are good. I want to stress test the organization by ensuring people take their vacation.

Now back to you and your problems.

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Managing Your Unlimited Vacation
You’ve taken a job at a company with unlimited vacation, so how should you handle it?

First, talk to some peers who can give you the lowdown on the pace of the business.  When are the busiest times of the year?  Those are usually not the best to take vacation, especially as a new employee.  When are the slowest?  I was at a company that had unlimited vacation but also had the entire company take off 4th of July week and the time between Christmas and New Year’s.  This was smart, those were slow times and it took away the anxiety of seeing you inbox fill up with emails from people who weren’t on vacation.  It’s important to talk to your manager to validate their view.  (See my other Wise Words).

Note: If you have a vacation planned before joining a company with unlimited vacation, tell them upfront.  Don’t just assume you can take it, there could be training or other things.

Second, figure out what constitutes a reasonable amount of vacation.  Taking off 6 months for example should clearly cause some issues.  Other than not getting your work done, it could also be a red flag that your manager is incompetent and isn’t stretching you enough.  Or that nobody is paying attention and you’re getting away with murder.  Or, if you are really that amazing that a six month absence wouldn’t be noticed, then you are the extreme outlier and probably should be working somewhere else.   

I’m going to assume that you are a hard charger (because you took the time to read this column) who wants to maximize your contribution to your employer in order to maximize your achievement and compensation. If this is the case then you need to make sure those prior scenarios don’t apply to you. Fergus’s Early Stage Professional book has some great guidance on how to take vacation.

The key takeaway with unlimited vacation is understanding the politics around vacation in your company, your role, and how you make sure you don’t damage your internal reputation, while still managing some time off to recharge.  ​

For more on Vacation Management see "Should I take vacation?" and "
Checklist for Checking Out". 

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Additional columns by Rob: "The Three Things Every Early Stage Professional Should Know" and "Retirement Saving: Get Started Today"


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Rob Deichert is a digital media professional and senior business leader who has managed teams for over 15 years.  He has held Executive positions at Advertising.com, AOL, Weather Channel, Criteo and Rubicon. 

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In the first 5 years or so of your career?  Want actionable career advice?  Buy Early Stage Professional: starting off right, the no nonsense professional skills book designed so that everyone can succeed in the workplace!  


More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - Collaboration is Power
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management