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Can an employer limit days off?

Our owner wrote a new policy stating only 10 unpaid "vacation" days, and 3 "sick" days are allowed per year(unless doctors note). No other days off will be approved. 

I'm considered part time by employer, I work 39 hrs/week.

 

It just doesnt sound right to get only 10 days off a YEAR. Am I wrong? Thoughts? 

Re: Can an employer limit days off?

  • PAGASPAGAS member
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    Two weeks off is pretty standard for vacation, so it seems fair to me.
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  • Wait-10 days unpaid? 2 weeks, while still kinda sucky, tends to be standard, but that is usually 2 weeks paid. What was the policy before?
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  • ZAngelZAngel member
    Seventh Anniversary Combo Breaker

    This is a right to work state so an employer can limit how many days you can take off.  I know it doesn't seem like a lot of time but if you really are sick, then take a quick trip to the clinic and I'm sure it won't be counted against you. 

    It sounds like your employer is trying to keep people from randomly calling in "sick".  As for vacation, most companies only give 2 weeks unless you've been there a really long time.  From what I've seen, some companies will add another week after 5 years.  This is usually time paid off though.  I've never heard of a company setting limits for non-paid time... but I can see that happening if the employees have a habit of taking off a lot.  Sounds like the company's way of giving "warnings" for taking too much time off.  They really don't have to do that -- most employers will just get rid of you without warning.

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  • imagePAGAS:
    Two weeks off is pretty standard for vacation, so it seems fair to me.
    Ditto
    image
  • why would they NOT be able to limit days off?
  • imageodear:
    Wait-10 days unpaid? 2 weeks, while still kinda sucky, tends to be standard, but that is usually 2 weeks paid. What was the policy before?

    This is what I was thinking.  Clearly they can limit your off time, but it typically applies to paid leave. 

  • image04JaxBride:
    why would they NOT be able to limit days off?

    This.  But if anyone knows where i can find a job with unlimited days off (unpaid, of course) sign me up!  Some days I just don't feel like going to work.

  • Do they consider you part-time at 39 hours a week, or hourly?  That seems strange to consider you part-time at 39 hours a week, and then full-time only when you are at the brink of getting overtime.  But technically they can make their policy however they want.

    As far as 10 unpaid days off, I'm assuming that is based on your schedule, right?  So if you normally work Tuesday - Saturday, and wanted to take a Friday off, that would be one of your days and you wouldn't get paid for it, right?

    Either way, doesn't sound like very competitive benefits (in terms of paid days off - do you get any of those?).  I might look for another job if I were you.

    "If you can't say something nice, shut the hell up!"
    - Paula Deen to 104.1 KRBE's Producer Eric 9/17/2011
  • NannerNanner member

    Sure, 2 weeks is standard, but not unpaid.  I've never heard of that before, unless it was a part-time/no benefits job, like a summer job or something.

    Is it just because you're considered part-time, or are all employees getting the same restrictions? 

    image
  • imagemichellebelle:

    Do they consider you part-time at 39 hours a week, or hourly?  That seems strange to consider you part-time at 39 hours a week, and then full-time only when you are at the brink of getting overtime.  But technically they can make their policy however they want.

    As far as 10 unpaid days off, I'm assuming that is based on your schedule, right?  So if you normally work Tuesday - Saturday, and wanted to take a Friday off, that would be one of your days and you wouldn't get paid for it, right?

    Either way, doesn't sound like very competitive benefits (in terms of paid days off - do you get any of those?).  I might look for another job if I were you.

    It has something to do with full time benefits. If I stay late, or go over on hours I have a short day. Its kind of funky.

    No days off are paid. Not even vacation. Sad


  • imageNanner:

    Sure, 2 weeks is standard, but not unpaid.  I've never heard of that before, unless it was a part-time/no benefits job, like a summer job or something.

    Is it just because you're considered part-time, or are all employees getting the same restrictions? 

    This was an email sent to everyone. Everyone who works there (besides management) is part time.
  • I think I've been found out..Tongue Tied

     

    The vacation policy has now been clarified..10 days are given every year, but you can request more, based on availability. Still unpaid.

    It's not competitive at all, but I really love where I work. Hopefully the company grows and will offer more competitive benefits. *crosses fingers*

    Thanks everyone for your input.

  • NannerNanner member
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.
    image
  • imageNanner:
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.

    Yes

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  • imageNanner:
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.

     

    It seems wrong because we are all used to professions with rich benefits packages paid by large employers.  People forget that benefits packages are part of total compensation that is part of what the company offers to make employment with them more desirable, therefore more competitive than their competitors.  In the industry in which Warontv works, there are hundreds of employers, lots of turnover (not related to benefits) and a lot of people hungry for those jobs.  So the business doesn't have to be as competitive as one where qualified employees are scarce (i.e. Healthcare in which TxBootsy and I work). 

    It's not benevolent of her employer, but they are also in a business without huge profit margins right now.  Hopefully as their business grows they will share more of those profits by way of paid vacation days and benefits for their employees.

    Especially because their customer base (ahem, raises hands) would rather give their business to a company that offers better support to its employees to stay healthy (paid vacations and health benefits included).

    Oh, and with the healthcare bill passing, more and more companies will do away with offering health benefits at all... but hint to warontv's employer if you are reading this - I worked for a small business that offered an extra check every month to full-time employees to pay for their own benefits packages since it wasn't affordable to offer their own benefits plan in their early years.

     

    "If you can't say something nice, shut the hell up!"
    - Paula Deen to 104.1 KRBE's Producer Eric 9/17/2011
  • imagemichellebelle:

    imageNanner:
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.

     

    It seems wrong because we are all used to professions with rich benefits packages paid by large employers.  People forget that benefits packages are part of total compensation that is part of what the company offers to make employment with them more desirable, therefore more competitive than their competitors.  In the industry in which Warontv works, there are hundreds of employers, lots of turnover (not related to benefits) and a lot of people hungry for those jobs.  So the business doesn't have to be as competitive as one where qualified employees are scarce (i.e. Healthcare in which TxBootsy and I work). 

    It's not benevolent of her employer, but they are also in a business without huge profit margins right now.  Hopefully as their business grows they will share more of those profits by way of paid vacation days and benefits for their employees.

    Especially because their customer base (ahem, raises hands) would rather give their business to a company that offers better support to its employees to stay healthy (paid vacations and health benefits included).

    Oh, and with the healthcare bill passing, more and more companies will do away with offering health benefits at all... but hint to warontv's employer if you are reading this - I worked for a small business that offered an extra check every month to full-time employees to pay for their own benefits packages since it wasn't affordable to offer their own benefits plan in their early years.

     

    I adore you. 

     

    Everything you said was 100% accurate. Thankfully I get amazing benefits from DH.  

  • imageNanner:
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.
    image
    You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted and used against you. My Blog
  • imageNanner:
    I'm glad you enjoy your job.  But frankly, they sound pretty cheap.  Unpaid vacation, and keeping everyone's working hours just low enough to avoid full-time status? That just seems wrong.

    Welcome to the world of retail.  There are huge national chains that do just this.  As a manager for one of them for many years it was common place to have our best employees work 39.5 hours per week so we wouldn't have to offer benefits or true vacations.  It's a pretty standard practice.

  • I can't offer anyone working for me paid time off or health coverage (I don't even get that).  Every job has its perks, and also its limitations.
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