Question re: paid holidays --

ottowatoo · ‎03-25-2010

Just out of curiosity -- I get paid just 6 holidays and 3 personal days where I work. That is after working for him for 14 yrs that he finally gave me that --after I asked for some paid holidays. Now, this year...I get Christmas off (pd)...and was going to take a half a paid personal day (only had one left). Now my boss says take a 1/2 day Wed, take Thurs off. Now, technically, I am out 1 full paid day....I was thinking, if he closed the office, I should get paid....no? any thoughts? I get no paid vacations. It is killing me that I will lose out on the pay -- but trying not to get crazy. Can't ask him, he is out for 2 wks on vacation....ugh....

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

Since this hasn't come up in 14 years, it's uncharted waters. I would think if the office was closed, you would get paid. Small companies though makeup their own rules.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

I've never heard of business, even very small ones, that did not give employees Thanksgiving and Christmas as paid holidays but I suppose it's possible. Wait until your boss gets back after the holidays and quietly and professional see if he's open to the idea of giving you those two days off as paid holidays, if they fall on a week day. I work for a large company, I always have but I can tell you that things have changed drastically over the decades. My employer once gave us 10 paid holidays, 2 personal days and and half day off for Christmas shopping that we could use any time in December. Those were the days, my friend! Bit by bit, we "lost" days. About 15 years ago, my employer ended vacation and sick days and went with the "earned time" system. Meaning we "earn" 4 hours of time every week. That's about 200 hours a year, 5 weeks. However, all of our time off; sick days, vacation days and holidays come from our earned time. And you cannot use time that you don't already have in the "bank". So, we have to be very careful about when and how much time we take off. And even though there are no "paid" holidays anymore, the company only recognizes a handufl. New Years, MLK, Memorial Day, the Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The year they gave us MLK, they took away Veteran's Day, It's funny. I should say that employees who have been around the longest do get more earned time, after 20 years, we earn 6 hours a week,

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

He should pay you for those days off. If he does not pay you what an old grinch. Try not to worry about it & enjoy the Holidays. As long as you have been working there you should get at least 2 weeks vacation & all holidays off with pay. My DH gets 7 weeks per year paid PTO plus holidays off. That's another 11 or 12 days off. He does not really have to ask to take off. He just tells his boss when he's going to be gone. He generally takes off during the Christmas holidays but decided to work this year. If he had taken off for Christmas he would be off work since Fri. the 18th until the 4th with pay. As it is he's only working 2 1/2 days this week & 2 days next week but still gets paid. The employees can also call in the morning & tell them they are taking the day off & nothing they can do about it. I have never heard of anyone being able to do that. They all have it made with their jobs. When they are not busy all the guys sit around & watch tv, play cards, text on their phones, play on their iPads & laptaps etc. Must be nice. Hope you get paid for those days off. Merry Christmas!!!

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

Are you part time? That sounds pretty stingy for a full time employee even for a small company.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@ottowatooIf you more or less silently accepted the owner's offers for 14 years, you've more or less taught him how to treat you - and it's not good for you.

I'm assuming you work for a small business, but that there are other workers besides you. Do you know how they are paid and how satisfied they are? And do you have any leverage? Any accomplishments within the business your boss would miss should you leave? And would you leave if he chooses not to improve your status?

You said the boss is away for 2 weeks - please use that time to search for info and to soul search, too. I have no idea what employment is like where you are, but I do know it has improved in many places, but you need to know that. It doesn't sound as if you would throw a hissy fit, but collecting info close to home feels better to me than acting on our advice. Employment, like real estate, is local. Very local.

Mominohio · ‎08-08-2010

@chrystaltree wrote:
I've never heard of business, even very small ones, that did not give employees Thanksgiving and Christmas as paid holidays but I suppose it's possible. Wait until your boss gets back after the holidays and quietly and professional see if he's open to the idea of giving you those two days off as paid holidays, if they fall on a week day. I work for a large company, I always have but I can tell you that things have changed drastically over the decades. My employer once gave us 10 paid holidays, 2 personal days and and half day off for Christmas shopping that we could use any time in December. Those were the days, my friend! Bit by bit, we "lost" days. About 15 years ago, my employer ended vacation and sick days and went with the "earned time" system. Meaning we "earn" 4 hours of time every week. That's about 200 hours a year, 5 weeks. However, all of our time off; sick days, vacation days and holidays come from our earned time. And you cannot use time that you don't already have in the "bank". So, we have to be very careful about when and how much time we take off. And even though there are no "paid" holidays anymore, the company only recognizes a handufl. New Years, MLK, Memorial Day, the Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The year they gave us MLK, they took away Veteran's Day, It's funny. I should say that employees who have been around the longest do get more earned time, after 20 years, we earn 6 hours a week,

More and more companies are moving to a system like this. They have been forced to do so because so many people would take advantage of other kinds of paid leave, using it all up and wanting even more time off, leaving the company short handed.

I personally think it is fair, to make people earn their paid time off, based on time worked. I also like that you take your PTO (paid time off) for what ever you need. Some people want to go on vacation, others need time off paid to have surgery, etc. It is just treating others more like responsible adults by requiring them to earn their time off based on hours worked, and allowing them to use it how and when they need.

And I agree, most every company is cutting back on all benefits, whether it is paid time off, number of holidays, or getting that turkey during the holidays. Sign of the times, I guess. If the economy ever really turns around, and employees are hard to attract and keep, companies will have to give more, but until then, it is what it is.

aggravated · ‎03-12-2010

I would think if he told you to take 1/2 day Christmas Eve and Christmas is a paid day off that you are not being charged for the time except as one of your paid holidays.

terriebear · ‎09-26-2010

If your boss told you to take the days off, I would think it would not count against your yearly totals, especially with him being out of town, and with it being right before Christmas. If he does try to count it against you, I would tell him that he TOLD you to take it off and it should NOT go against your days off. SO ENJOY! Merry Christmas from your boss!

blackhole99 · ‎08-22-2013

I worked for a fairly large company and little by little our holidays were cut and if you didn't take your vacation on time you lost that. One year because there was no one to cover for me, I lost 7 days vacation and was not compensated for them. My son once worked for a small company and they had no paid sick leave, if you were sick you were SOL. I guess if you have a decent job today you should be thankful and not rock the boat.