30 replies to this topic

[Diverbrian]

Something to chew on for us singles here:

How many people here (that actually work for someone besides themselves) get flack from their married co-workers for taking a bunch of three and four day weekends to go diving?

I mean that I get all kinds of cold looks for the Fridays that I have off to go on charters or head to local areas for dive trips this summer. The argument seems to be that "I've got an SO and children, so I have to have my family time. You can fit yours in the scraps that are left as you won't make the commitment to raise a family."

This is definitely a trip related issue as if you tick off co-workers too much (ie. take too much of the "plum" time off and in my case that would be the actually short wreck diving season up here) , they are miserable to work with.

I was just curious how many of us cute, single, funny people see this and how they feel/act about it? Humorous replies are appreciated as well as serious ones.

[Latitude Adjustment]

The only time they ever gave me grief was when I took 3 weeks in a row but I get 5 weeks annual and management wants me to use every last hour of it, come Nov. I'll get e-mails every week reminding me that I have use or lose.
That is over and above the 240 hours I keep on the books "just in case" and with retirement coming I need cough, cough to use up my 600 hours of sick leave.
Did I mention I work flex time, 9 hour days so I get 26 3 day weekends, is this a cool job or what! Filling up all of that time off with dives can sometimes be a problem though! :lam:

[Walter]

I don't understand the question.

[mischievous]

since i'm the only employee of my brother's store, his wife gripes everytime i ask for time off because it means he can't stay home to babysit my new nephew. she's got the new mother syndrome where no one understands/is qualified to care for her darling boy and he'll get sick/harrassed by other children even at very qualified childcare facilities. i'm going to michigan/canada for two weeks in july(which btw i was going to see if i could tag-a-long on anyone's local diving adventure...let me know! 7/02-7/12 to be exact), and now she's not speaking to me because she feels as if i'm the irresponsible one of the group even though i told her four months in advance. sheesh....

The argument seems to be that "I've got an SO and children, so I have to have my family time. You can fit yours in the scraps that are left as you won't make the commitment to raise a family."

and that remark is totally unfair. sometimes people act like they have the right and even the obligation to judge your personal life. like LA says...vacation time just accumulates. remind jealous co-workers that they would probably rather you take long weekends than a few months off at a time.

[jextract]

A simple "neener neener!" seems to work for me. Of course, then I have to really rub it in by bringing back great pictures, too...........

[mischievous]

well okay then...seems like that could be an option...too...hmmm...

[WisconsinGal]

Sure, I get harrassed everytime I send out a Vacation notice, but it's all in good fun

The day someone gives me grief over taking vacation days, is the day I remind them that I've earned every hour, minute and second of those special days

[Diverbrian]

I work with a crew of six people and Mischievous just hit the nail on the head.

I noticed the same phenomenon when I was in the service. The married guys wanted me to work all of the holidays as I didn't have family in the area and they did.

I have been getting some real nasty comments from co-workers about all of the time that I am taking off in the summer months and it is not "all in good fun". I understand their view. They want to spend time with their families. But, I really can't control the fact that charters up here run basically from May to the end of Sept. and that is it! Oh well, they will have to just live with it, I guess.

[Walter]

For us, we choose "prime time" in order of seniority. We do that twice. That way, the newest person in my section gets their first choice before I get my second. Each of these selections must be in 1, 2 or 3 week increments. After that process is completed, any other requests are strictly on a first come, first served basis. The process is fair, so no one has any reason to complain. Single, married, time with familt, dive vaction - none of that comes into play.

Perhaps the process isn't fair for handing out the vacation time where you work? Perhaps if it were fair, there'd be no reason for anyone to complain?

[Diverbrian]

Where I work it is strictly "first come, first serve" basis. This was never an issue until they cut staffing levels. Now the overtime levels are creeping back up and everybody is getting wealthy and cranky at the same time.

[Walter]

First come, first serve is fair. Tell them to put in for time off if they want it.

[Diverbrian]

basically from May to the end of Sept. and that is it! Oh well, they will have to just live with it, I guess.

NOTE: WW, if you want to schedule trips for points South of me. That tells you when I can go, LOL.

[Blublood]

neener, neener works for me.............Actually I just go and hope I don't more than 2-3,000 messages to return and the stack of paper is no more than a foot or two high on my desk. It might be before and after a trip but I pay for every second I'm gone...Just in a diferent way.

[Laura]

DB,

I don't get flack because where I work, vacation requests are on a "first come first served" basis. Only a certain number of people can be off at once, so we put in a request and if there is coverage, we take the time off. Sometimes we have to plan ahead and "claim our space" in advance....Summers are not as much of a problem as holidays. Some people here put in their bids for time off around Christmas, as much as 1-2 years in advance!!.

However...I can relate to what you are saying. Some people think that if they have a family, their time is somehow "more important" that a single person's. No dis-respect to the working parents, but I think that is B**S***. EVERYONE needs a little R&R, and your time off is every bit as important as theirs. Wether or not a person is "attached" or a parent, should have NO BEARING on this whatsoever.

Single people make up for it enough as it is...case in point, when co-workers call off to take care of their sick children, the single/childless people have to stay and take up the slack. Don't get me wrong- I think a parent SHOULD be able to take time off to care for a sick child- but it is the non-parenting worker who stays and keeps the place running. So we feel the brunt of it, even thought it's not our kid.

So, based on that- I feel that no one is "entitled" to certain vacation times based on their demographics alone. I feel that a "bidding" system, or senority, etc. is the most impartial, fair way to handle vacation requests.

Take care
Laura

[ColoradoPilot]

Seems that part of it is jealousy. They have "obligations" whereas I am free to do things that they cannot. But I will never have the thrill
of having a child look up to me and say "Daddy." I will never get to teach a son to play ball or worry about a daughter getting pregnant.

My life is such an empty void. How dare they criticize me for taking time off. I need that time to go to Cozumel and cry about my pitiful life

PS. I am new here and most of what I wrote is sarcasm. I do not feel guilty about taking a trip that I plan a week in advance or one to Australia three days in advance. I do need a female companion though.

Edited by ColoradoPilot, 24 April 2004 - 08:18 PM.