With so many people not using their vacation is unlimited vacation a real benefit or is it a burden?
More and more companies are now offering unlimited vacation as a benefit and Virgin Mobile founder and CEO Richard Branson has brought even more focus to this perk when he announced that he would be experimenting with unlimited vacation. But what does this new policy mean for employees and should you look for an organization that offers this?
Do you have to worry that your boss is tracking how many days you take? Are there a number of days that is deemed as okay and when you pass that number you are “blacklisted”? This uncertainty could lead too much more stress than the days off are worth!
There are definitely a couple things to consider when unlimited vacation time is offered up:
How lean is your team or department?
Will you really be able to take time off or are you a one-person team and while it is policy to have unlimited vacation reality is quite a different story. The other side of this coin is that you may be on a team where you colleague takes a week off every month and you are picking up the slack!
Are you expected to work longer days and on your weekends to make up time?
Does unlimited vacation translate in your bosses’ mind to you being on call 24/7 even on statutory holidays?
When you are on a vacation day are you now expected to check in?
Many companies with set vacation times expect people to check in even when they are away and for many professionals that is their new norm – wake up while away, check emails, reply to emails while enjoying a coffee before embarking on the days activities. Most people repeat before bedtime depending what time zone they are in. Is this going to be expected if you set your vacation time?
Does the boss really want you to take vacation?
Do you have to worry that your boss is tracking how many days you take? Are there a number of days that is deemed as okay and when you pass that number you are “blacklisted”? This uncertainty could lead too much more stress than the days off are worth!
Like with any job offer it is recommended you do your due diligence and ask questions and meet with as many people as you can to get a feel for the culture.
Do you work for a company that gives you unlimited vacation? Has it been a benefit or a burden?