I'm at university in America. I am from the US Occupied Territories. My Dad has to lie about his religion to work for an American company in US controlled Palestine. Dad is not really religious at all. Otherwise I could not get a Student Visa for studies.
If an office can't allow employees to ever take time off, the office is poorly managed. It is expected that there will be busy times throughout the year when people won't be able to take time off. Nothing wrong with that. But if your employees are always that busy, it just means that you're understaffed. And intentionally being constantly understaffed is usually a stupid policy.
How is it that someone is considered a slacker if they want to take the vacation time that was promised to them when they were hired??
You can't imagine the amount of "sick time" and "vacation time" I have lost over the years when I changed jobs. When you rarely have to use sick days and they pile up. When you change jobs, you lose them.
Use your days. Don't give them away. You earned what you were promised.
Since you only have a year contract, you likely wouldn't be using a whole lot of vacation time anyway. Typically one wouldn't take time off for the first 6 months, and then after that request a day off and see what happens. Until your supervisor actually denies a time off request, don't worry about it.
uphill run wrote:
Life is too short, take your vacation days. All of them! Keep notes (dates, details) on your boss and others saying you are not allowed to use them, document it all, keep emails and if any repercussions come from using your vacation days, take it up with the dean of your program or even the head of school. It's illegal to not allow employees to use their vacation time.
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Yes. Keep records. More than likely you are going to lose your job. It's going to happen whether you like to hear it or not. You are the odd one. Whoever hired the others knows they can work them like dogs and threaten them, and threats will work. You can use this to your advantage or you can face the fact that you are going to be fired soon if you complain.
The way to use this to your advantage is to A) plant seeds with your co-workers spouses. Do not be overt.
B), mention little stories about some "other" place that your "friend" works that has sick pay, vacations, and better pay. Get them to desire someplace else.
Soon, a few will talk. Once that happens, brainstorm.
Let them think it's there idea. Power is in numnbers