taking vacation right before giving notice

[nageov3t]

anyone else think it's kind of a douche move?

I guess someone's entitled to use up all of their benefits but as a coworker getting saddled with all the extra load (and who won't be able to take vacation until a replacement is hired), it kinda feels like a departing kick in the nuts.

 

[hellotyler]

Completely legitimate, because companies will often times screw you on paid vacation time since it's not a requirement by the state but something offered by the company. I'd probably give 2 week notice before leaving on the vacation so they could use that time to find a replacement.

 

[DesiPower]

anyone else think it's kind of a douche move?

I guess someone's entitled to use up all of their benefits but as a coworker getting saddled with all the extra load (and who won't be able to take vacation until a replacement is hired), it kinda feels like a departing kick in the nuts.

Depends... where I work you get reimbursed for all unused leaves, so yes its would be a douche move. On the other hand, if some organization does not do that, if they try to screw you over, its a perfectly legitimate move.

btw, in either case, when you do that, you basically burn the bridge. IMHO, its stupid to do that.

 

[rcpratt]

If I had any concern about not getting my vacation cashed out, I would absolutely do the same.

 

[BoomerD]

I see nothing wrong with doing that. Too many companies either don't pay accrued vacation pay, or just fire you on the spot when you give notice.

 

[swerus]

anyone else think it's kind of a douche move?

I guess someone's entitled to use up all of their benefits but as a coworker getting saddled with all the extra load (and who won't be able to take vacation until a replacement is hired), it kinda feels like a departing kick in the nuts.

Demand they hire a hawt temp assistant for you nao.

 

[guyver01]

If I had any concern about not getting my vacation cashed out, I would absolutely do the same.

this!

 

[Engineer]

If I had any concern about not getting my vacation cashed out, I would absolutely do the same.

This.

I put in for my vacation about 3 months ago. Just so happens, I received a job offer 3 weeks before starting the vacation. I gave a 3 weeks notice (including the vacation) but the company came back and told me that my employment ends at 2 weeks and that they would pay me for my vacation + regular pay on the last check (next week - we'll see). I'm sure that they did it to cut me off of medical ASAP.

Anyway, the above is good advise.

 

[Joemonkey]

I received a job offer on a Monday, the week before labor day. I already had vacation scheduled for Wed and Thur of that week, and my company paid holiday pay for the Friday before and the Monday of Labor Day. I didn't want to put in my 2 weeks and miss out on those 2 vacation days or those two holidays, so I gave the new company a start date that was 2 weeks from the Tuesday after labor day, didn't tell my current employer anything, then I put in my two weeks notice on the Tuesday after labor day.

I had no idea what they did with your vacation time, but they did pay me out for the rest of it.

 

[sjwaste]

Nope, not a dick move at all. I encourage people to look out for themselves, because no one else is going to do that in the workplace. It's at-will employment for a reason, and employers certainly aren't shy about utilizing their powers under that system.

I just recently had someone put in for a day off during their notice period (ie, after they'd given notice). I have zero issue with that as well. As far as I'm concerned, an employee does not owe his or her employer anything beyond the time that's been exchanged for money. If someone is that valuable, make it worth their while to stay - or even better, do it on a continuous basis so that you're not the recipient of untimely notice.

I'm nothing but happy for a coworker that leaves. It usually means they found a better opportunity for themselves, and I think that's great.

 

[Sphexi]

Absolutely a dick move. If you were happy with your job and leaving on good terms, there'd be nothing to worry about. We had two people leave and do this same thing, neither were well liked and did shit jobs. One actually lied about a medical condition to get extra time off, so she could work on launching a website, and go to Napa valley on vacation. If it didn't work out she would've just come back, thankfully the website worked out long enough for her to quit for good.

 

[gophins72]

wow sure does seem like a lot of people are quitting lately...

*insert "in this economy" here*

 

[Farang]

In my experience, I will not be giving two weeks notice anymore. I'd consider getting vacation approved for the week(s) after I quit so that I have a signed approval that may help me later should they decide not to pay out my vacation time.

The only reason to give notice is to not "burn bridges." But you are very vulnerable if you do it. And you will burn bridges anyway if you don't bend over and let them fuck you however they want to. Can you afford to lose that two weeks pay if they fire you on the spot? Are you prepared to fight them at the unemployment office for those two weeks? Once you've got to that point you've already burned bridges and may as well just gotten paid for two weeks of full-time work, and not given notice.

 

[spidey07]

In my experience, I will not be giving two weeks notice anymore. I'd consider getting vacation approved for the week(s) after I quit so that I have a signed approval that may help me later should they decide not to pay out my vacation time.

The only reason to give notice is to not "burn bridges." But you are very vulnerable if you do it. And you will burn bridges anyway if you don't bend over and let them fuck you however they want to. Can you afford to lose that two weeks pay if they fire you on the spot? Are you prepared to fight them at the unemployment office for those two weeks? Once you've got to that point you've already burned bridges and may as well just gotten paid for two weeks of full-time work, and not given notice.

That's complete non-sense. Giving two weeks will go a long way to being viewed as a professional. Many times the company will even tell you "you can come back at any time, we'd love to have you" and frequently people do.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

anyone else think it's kind of a douche move?

I guess someone's entitled to use up all of their benefits but as a coworker getting saddled with all the extra load (and who won't be able to take vacation until a replacement is hired), it kinda feels like a departing kick in the nuts.

If they have the time, it is theirs to use. It is your company's responsibility to resource his workload properly, not yours. Keep that in mind.

I had a coworker who went to Singapore on business. It was a trip I was originally scheduled on, but my boss asked me to give it up because my coworker (who was a friend) was upset that I was getting all of the international assignments.

He had interviewed with another company before he left (I knew about the interview) and in the middle of the trip, was offered the job. The first day back in the office, he resigned. I was happy for him but kind of pissed that I gave that trip up.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

That's complete non-sense. Giving two weeks will go a long way to being viewed as a professional. Many times the company will even tell you "you can come back at any time, we'd love to have you" and frequently people do.

This x 1000. NEVER not give a two week notice, even if you hate the company. If you don't, it can, and WILL, bite you. For those who say "I'll never use them as a reference," it doesn't matter. Word will get out through user groups and other networking events.

 

[spidey07]

This x 1000. NEVER not give a two week notice, even if you hate the company. If you don't, it can, and WILL, bite you. For those who say "I'll never use them as a reference," it doesn't matter. Word will get out through user groups and other networking events.

In any specific industry, no matter how large the city, everybody knows everybody in one way or another. "asshole didn't even give two weeks, avoid" is all it takes for you not to get the job.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

In any specific industry, no matter how large the city, everybody knows everybody in one way or another. "asshole didn't even give two weeks, avoid" is all it takes for you not to get the job.

Yep, I had an asshole coworker at my last company that left after throwing a hissy fit and trying to get a bunch of us fired (it backfired when HR caught him lying). Any way, he applied at my current company and I was responsible for screening candidates. Guess who didn't get an interview? So even your old coworkers can and will remember you being an ass.

 

[Farang]

I do not buy that. It has nothing to do with hating the company, it is about protecting yourself. If you need/want two weeks pay, do not give notice. Especially if they have given you a handbook/contract that clearly states at-will employment policies.

Whether that leads them to badmouth you or whatever, well what can you do. If they want it to be a two-way street they should have a two week severance package as part of your compensation.

edit: I come from a non-exempt background which probably gives me different perspective

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I do not buy that. It has nothing to do with hating the company, it is about protecting yourself. If you need/want two weeks pay, do not give notice. Especially if they have given you a handbook/contract that clearly states at-will employment policies.

It doesn't matter if you buy it, that is the truth. Take it from professionals that have worked for many, many years. If a prospective employer finds out you didn't give the proper notice, it will be a black eye for you.

Whether that leads them to badmouth you or whatever, well what can you do.

You can give a proper notice?

Seriously, I have NEVER had an issue with giving a 2+ week notice.

If they want it to be a two-way street they should have a two week severance package as part of your compensation.

Most good employers do give you severance if you're laid off. I have never worked for a company that didn't give severance. At my last company, had I been laid off, I would've been eligible for 6 months of pay. Not bad for only about 6 years of service.

 

[Engineer]

That's complete non-sense. Giving two weeks will go a long way to being viewed as a professional. Many times the company will even tell you "you can come back at any time, we'd love to have you" and frequently people do.

My former company (as of last week) told me that very thing. Said that if I ever needed a job, just call. (then he laughed and said that I would have to sign a 2 year contract though! )

 

[rudeguy]

I wouldn't use vacation time since that is paid out if you give 2 weeks notice.

I would use up as much sick time and float time as I could.

But my company expects employees to use that time. Its part of our benefit package and ours to use whenever we want, even before we quit.

I don't know why a company would get butt hurt about something like that. Unless they were planning on paying you for it after you quit, why not use it up?

 

[tboo]

This x 1000. NEVER not give a two week notice, even if you hate the company. If you don't, it can, and WILL, bite you. For those who say "I'll never use them as a reference," it doesn't matter. Word will get out through user groups and other networking events.

This x100

 

[Sphexi]

As a secondary comment, I have worked places where a contract stated that vacation time would only be paid if you worked x number of pay periods before AND after the vacation. This was to prevent the kind of behavior discussed here.

 

[nageov3t]

I don't know why a company would get butt hurt about something like that. Unless they were planning on paying you for it after you quit, why not use it up?

company doesn't care, I (as a random coworker/cog in the wheel) just feel like it's a little douche-y to do to your soon-to-be-ex coworkers.