Question about 'burning bridges' with employer

[zixxer]

I wasn't actively looking for another job, but on a somewhat random chance I ended up getting an offer from another company for a job I will enjoy much much more and is more money.

They need/want me to start on the 11th. That's slightly more than two weeks.. I have 13 days of vacation left at my current company. I have no outstanding projects or anything like that.


Is it appropriate to use those vacation days? I'm not even sure if it's a normal thing to ask for...


how would you approach this? Note that I'm not against working out the two weeks, but I haven't had a vacation in a long time, and the new company vacation days don't start for a couple months.

 

[waggy]

sure. the company may have a use t hem or lose t hem.

 

[Tipsy Turtle]

Fvck em.

They would you if they ever had the chance.

 

[zixxer]

I'm worried about future jobs calling them for a reference and being told I 'ditched them' or some crap... but I guess typically they'll only contact your current employer

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: waggy
sure. the company may have a use t hem or lose t hem.

It definitely is use em or lose em

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: zixxer

Originally posted by: waggy
sure. the company may have a use t hem or lose t hem.

It definitely is use em or lose em

than that makes it easy eh? use them.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Use them or lose them, then use them.

If you will get paid for them and the termination of your employment, then stick around for 2 weeks. It'll be a nice little bonus to your last paycheck.

Are you positive it is a use them or lose them situation? I thought most companies have a policy where you incur vacations days each month (for me it is 1.67 or something vacation days earned each month).

 

[Qacer]

Originally posted by: zixxer
I'm worried about future jobs calling them for a reference and being told I 'ditched them' or some crap... but I guess typically they'll only contact your current employer

Well, my boss' take on this is that whenever he gets an inquiry about a former employee, he only tells them that the person worked here from starting date till end date. The reason being is that saying anything else will possibly result in a slander lawsuit especially if you say anything bad about the former employee.

 

[Vette73]

Its what I did. I put my request for days off and then put my notice in. Got 5 work days left and no weekends. Start new job on the 11th in DC.

 

[bigrash]

No that I'm saying that you're wrong, but are you sure that you have 13 days of vacation left if you leave now? I used to work in Payroll and that was the most common assumption when someone quit. Most of the time vacation is accrued, so if you're owed 2 weeks for the whole year, you'll probably get half of that if you leave in May/June.

If they don't let you take vacation, you can most likely take a payout for what you're owed instead.

 

[NuroMancer]

Don't burn the bridge unless you have to.

 

[jaybert]

Originally posted by: Qacer

Originally posted by: zixxer
I'm worried about future jobs calling them for a reference and being told I 'ditched them' or some crap... but I guess typically they'll only contact your current employer

Well, my boss' take on this is that whenever he gets an inquiry about a former employee, he only tells them that the person worked here from starting date till end date. The reason being is that saying anything else will possibly result in a slander lawsuit especially if you say anything bad about the former employee.

thats becoming more and more common for the reason you stated...even if they have good things to say, they wont say anything, for the fear that you dont get the job, and they think its because you said something libelous..even if you didnt. your word against theirs..

 

[ethebubbeth]

Yeah, I didn't use up my remaining vacation time when I just left my previous job (last day was Sunday), but they paid for them. I made sure to use up all my sick time though, since for that I am not going to be reimbursed.

 

[Leeroy]

Over here, if you quit, what you don't use gets paid out to you, so quitting with 13 days leave would get you an extra 13 day's pay in your final pay slip.

 

[SmoochyTX]

*wrong thread*

 

[Xstatic1]

ask HR/payroll or thumb through your employment handbook (if there's such a thing at your workplace) to find out if u could be paid for any unused vacation. in most cases, employers usually will pay out for accrued vacation hrs, but you'll lose out on any sick leave hrs.

if you don't care about getting future references (like if you were to leave this next job that will start on the 11th) from your current employer, go ahead & burn the bridge, LOL. again in most cases, employers can only verify dates of employment & last job title...*sometimes* they may let it slip whether or not you are eligible for re-hire at that company (so if you burnt the bridge, there could be a "mark" against you). truthfully, i wouldn't worry about it too much. if you are in IT or anything computer-related, most recruiters/employers won't care what your previous employers thought of you ('cause the turnover is so high & they just want good, skillful workers to fill the jobs) unless you committed some kind of crime like embezzlement.

 

[jme5343]

Put in for the vac beginning when you start the new job. = double pay for two weeks

 

[warlord]

Whether the company will pay for you vacation is usually not determined by the company, it is usually determined by the government in the state you are employed. There aren't too many companies I know out there that will say "Well he had two weeks vacation comming, lets just pay it to him even though he quit, after all, we don't need the money." In IL and IA, it is state law that employees be paid for any accrued paid time off.

If you're worried about the reference, then it is best to give them the two weeks. Otherwise I'd stick it to them for the same reason mentioned above, they wouldn't hesitate to stick it to you.

 

[AreaCode707]

See if you can cash out. If you can, work til the end. At your new employer, with your boss's permission, you can take unpaid time off. The cash out you get will cover your paycheck for that unpaid time off.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: zixxer
I wasn't actively looking for another job, but on a somewhat random chance I ended up getting an offer from another company for a job I will enjoy much much more and is more money.

They need/want me to start on the 11th. That's slightly more than two weeks.. I have 13 days of vacation left at my current company. I have no outstanding projects or anything like that.


Is it appropriate to use those vacation days? I'm not even sure if it's a normal thing to ask for...


how would you approach this? Note that I'm not against working out the two weeks, but I haven't had a vacation in a long time, and the new company vacation days don't start for a couple months.

I will say if you are quitting do not tell them you are then ask for your vacation, unless you don't plan on working the two weeks or whatever when you come back.

This almost always ends in a termination coming out the same day.

Also many times you use them or lose them except in termination or quitting..then many times you can be paid out any leftover vacation time.

It depends on what you signed when you started and your state's laws.

My money is on request the vacation, then decide whether you want to negotiate a later start with the new company should your old one need you to stick it out two weeks.

If you are in a position where you don't do much and have back up then lay that on the table when you get back and explain an opportunity came up and needs you to start right away.

 

[Vic]

Make sure you have a solid offer letter from your new employer, then speak with HR openly about your intentions. Most like they can (will have to) cash you out for the vacation pay. "Use it or lose it" applies to accrual of vacation days, not leaving the company. Vacation usually has to be scheduled a certain amount of time in advance. Given your circumstance, I would recommend asking to be out let out of the 2 weeks notice, while volunteering that you will stay the 2 weeks if they absolutely need for you to, and in that case then try to seek an in-between compromise. That way no bridge-burning occurs.

 

[BoomerD]

A quick googling shows that Georgia only follows the US Fair Labor standards, which says that vacation pay is between the employer and employee...not otherwise regulated by law...so, if your company doesn't pay accrued vacation when you leave, there's not much you can do legally. With that being the case, talk to your HR department and see what they have to say...if they tell you that you lose any accrued vacation, then take the time now, and give notice before you go...While burning the bridge isn't always desirable, (I've NUKED several over the years) often it's the only way to part company. As has been mentioned, many companies will fire you the day you give notice...(so much for being nice, huh?) so why are we employees the only ones that are expected to give notice?
Myself, I've told employers at the end of the day that I wouldn't be back the following day, I've called in quit (as compared to calling in sick) and have even walked off a job at the start of a shift, during the shift, etc..."fvck you...I'm outta here...call the hall and get someone else to put up with your bullsh*t..."
HOWEVER, most jobs are much different than construction, (especially union hall dispatched construction) and quitting without proper notice MAY hauant you for a couple of years.