Benefits Question:

Benefits Question:

I have worked with my current employer 10+ years and am at our maximum PTO accrual rate of 5 weeks/year. I've been looking at changing companies and have interviewed with a few. When I talk to HR, they often tell me the benefits package and note that I'd start, as a new employee, at the bottom rung of PTO accrual (often 2 weeks). Is this often negotiable? Is it unreasonable to think that the same years of experience that make me a good fit for a role should also qualify me for the higher PTO accrual rate? I realize I may not get all the way to where I am today, but to go from 5 to 2 is a kick in the gut.

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  1. Anonymous

    Absolutely it's negotiable! At least that's been my experience with a handful of employers over the last 15-20 years. We've just revamped our policy and the unwritten part is that for new hires, we'll take into consideration years of experience when it comes to how much vacation time allotted.

    Now, that said, I do want to note that this revamped policy is specifically for salaried/professional employees. And, too, what I've noticed in the last couple of decades is it seems the more vacation/PTO a person has, the less opportunity they have to use it, sadly. All that to say, make sure that too...you find an employer that values a work/life balance.

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