I just started at my new company (financial industry).

10 Comments

1. Brittany Wilson, Transformational Career CoachJanuary 16,2023 at 9:59PM UTC

   I think this is a great question to consider asking your manager. I started a new job (in the same company) in October; a few weeks in, I realized that the end of the year was very busy for the team, and I still had vacation to use. So, on Nov 1, I asked my manager, "When should I take off?" And she said, "November." hahahaha, she was completely ok with me taking the time quickly so I got the break I deserved. Asking my manager helped me a ton.

2. Sreedevi VJanuary 16,2023 at 11:14PM UTC

   I did the same.
   I knew my colleagues were planning to take time off in December, and my boss had put in 2 weeks for May. When she mentioned her leave dates, I asked what the year ahead looked like, so I could plan my leave. She told me the busy times, and I was able to work around those.

3. Sharon GrehanJanuary 17,2023 at 1:37AM UTC

   There should be information in your contract/offer letter stating how you accrue PTO. If not, check in with HR and plan accordingly for when you will have accrued enough time to take a week or more off. For example, if you accrue 1 day of PTO per month, you know that you should be looking at at least 7 months out...

4. AnonymousJanuary 17,2023 at 5:04PM UTC

   Don’t feel bad about it - it’s part of your total compensation package. They’re yours to use. If you don’t have a need early in the year, plan something for later.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistJanuary 18,2023 at 1:45AM UTC

   Why would you feel bad about something you've earned? If a friend said to you what you said to us, would you agree your friend should feel bad about wanting to plan a vacation?

   Check your employee handbook or with HR - some companies have policies like you can't take a vacation until you've been there 6 months. Some companies have a policy where you earn PTO for every hour worked.

6. AnonymousJanuary 18,2023 at 3:45PM UTC

   Check your handbook to see if it's all bestwed at the beginning of the year or if it's "accrue time as you go". A lot of places, even if you are new and havn't accrued enough, will let you take time off and the accrual catch up later. When starting a new job, always make sure you negotiate some time off as part of the hiring process so you don't have to wait for accrual catch up. The only drawback to accrual catch up is if you take time off and haven't accrued enough, and end up leaving the company, you will owe them back for time taken out of you final check (usually).

7. Kimberly G. SmothersJanuary 18,2023 at 3:46PM UTC

   In finance, I have learned over the past 40 years to never schedule PTO around the last day of a calendar month or the first week due to accounting close activities. I shoot for bumping it up to the last week of the month, hoping to get it around holidays to make the break longer.

8. AnonymousJanuary 18,2023 at 5:45PM UTC

   Your employee handbook should have the basics around PTO, FTO or accrued vacation. If its accrued you only get paid for what you accrue. If its PTO find out if its unlimited or limited. If so usually more tenured folks get the pick of the holiday times off. Put in what you hope for based upon that or if you don't know seek out your benefits person to guide you.

9. AnonymousJanuary 19,2023 at 2:01PM UTC

   Check with HR or manager to find out at what rate you accrue PTO. You can also ask your manager if you can "borrow" against your future balance for the year if you haven't accrued it yet. I would probably wait at least 3 months before taking a week off unless I needed to due to child care during a school break or already-planned family trip or something.

10. Lisa MarieJanuary 21,2023 at 7:54PM UTC

    You said you were asked to fill out their *annual calendar* this means they want to look ahead and plan for when all employee' tasks will need to bo covered by someone else.

    Simply put in the dates you plan to, or would like to request time off. You can always *not* take the dates if your plans change when the time comes around.

    Be warned: if you don't put in dates on the company's calendar now, then try to ask later, you may very be denied the time... BECAUSE you didn't put your dates on the calendar when theyy asked.

    While some/many/most companies do have rules for when vacation time is accrued or can be used, LIFE doesn't do "man-made rules* like that, so don't worry about how short the time you've been working there.

    Also, for any job you work, it doesn't matter when you started working at any job, chances are you left another job to go there, and may not have had your vacation yet anyway.

    Work life balance is important. So do not ever hesitate to request the time(s) you need for yourself. Remember that some company's decision-makers won't hesitate to drop you like a hot potato when it serves their selfish purposes