O.k................for the umpeenth time, I'm getting the "I need my vacation pay before I leave for vacation" routine from my shop guys. Sorry, folks, but I need to vent. I have NEVER, EVER worked for a company that hands out vacation pay before the employee is out on vacation. It's always been paid on a regular payday, regardless if you're available to pick it up from the office.

The same people who make fun of me and my coupon binder are the very people beating a path to my door demanding their check. These people also refuse the option of no charge direct deposit since it takes an extra day to process. My motto is, "If you need your vacation check up front, you can't afford to go on vacation."

I didn't know how to set up a poll, so I'll just ask. Do you think I'm being unreasonable telling them no, they have to wait until the pay period ends?

I worked for a (now defunct) company that did allow employees to request their vacation pay in advance of their vacation if needed. I believe that company and some people consider vacation pay to have been earned by the time that they take it (in fact, I think it shows up as a liability on a company's financials), so with that thought in mind, I suppose it's reasonable for them to ask.

But I personally agree with you that needing that pay in advance indicates living a little closer to the edge than I'd ever be comfortable with...but I do believe it's fairly common. That doesn't mean that hard workers don't deserve some R&R however...

Oh yeah, the question, LOL: I get paid 2x month regular or vacation time.

cj/

There are those that request vacation pay and never take the vacation days off either. They just need the money. I understand where you're coming from on this issue. However, you're not their conscience or budget keeper. You have to cut the check at some point in time. It wouldn't bother me to cut the check in advance. In fact, you could add it on to their current weeks pay. Maybe that would discourage them from asking in advance. The reason being.......a higher figure paycheck will have more withheld in taxes.

Vacation pay is not to pay for the vacation...it is to cover the hours that you are on vacation. Checks come out on payday, not when you request them. If you pay your guys for the 4th of July and give them the day off do you write them a check on the 3rd to buy ribs??

Vacation ... pay?? I thought vacation time was just paid time off! My brother has gotten checks for vacation time but that was because he never takes time off work and couldn't accrue it anymore.

Anyplace I have ever worked, vacation pay is the pay you still receive in your REGULAR paycheck that pays for the days you have taken off. You could receive your pay while you are on vacation if those are the days you are off or you could receive it after your days off. It is to cover the pay for the days you are off so that you still get a regular paycheck. I have never heard of anyone getting paid for their vacation ahead of time.

Let me try to clarify this a bit. Our company has personal time, which is to be used however the employee sees fit. Could be used for dr. visits, time @ school w/ kids, time off to travel, etc. The company had a real problem with employees "needing" extra money for various things. The employees learned they could get the money up front and still take an occasional sick or vacation day w/out pay. We needed to budget both money and productivity based on a set amount of time off for each person.

The personal time policy was set up so people would have time off to use as they chose, but the new policy (instituted three years ago) clearly stated:

1. There would be no advance checks for personal time.
2. Personal time meant time away from work; if you get money, you're not at the shop.


The other poster was absolutely right; I am not judge & jury for these folks. However, when the policy clearly states the obvious (checks not cut in advance) & the boss falls for their lame "but I really NEED it" line, then I'm left to adjust the funds allocated for the weeks' payroll and money can be really tight. It's not just the check; there are taxes to consider, too. For a small company like ours, it can be a significant amount.

I find that I'm very old fashioned when it comes to rules and not many people seem to think the way I do. I was very upset this afternoon and just wanted to vent.

Well heck, if that's the written policy, then whomever is in charge needs to enforce it. Along as exceptions are being made, the employees are going to expect to be able to break the rules. Right?

cj/

If the rules are written and every one know them....they need to be followed. If there is a true emergency exception to be made (i.e., medical situation or bereavement trip to be made) then count that as an emergency exemption and make it known this is a one-time only concession. If you allow this on a "but I need extra spending money for my vacation" exemption, once one employee is allowed to do this, it will get around and many other employees will request it. I say this needs to be nipped in the bud. A TRUE EMERGENCY is easily identifiable.

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And therein lies the problem. I've been told I get to make the decision, but the company owner falls for their pity party and then overrides me. Once the dam is broken, it's hard to stop the flow. I just thought maybe I was as hard hearted and as much of a witch as they think I am.

I've done payroll for about 20 years now. My answer is always "it's not the company policy but you can speak to (whoever can make the decision - in your case sounds like the owner) and he may make an exception.
That way you are following the rules as you know them and you don't look like the bad guy.

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When I was working in a factory here we got vacation pay on June 1st. every year. Didn't matter how many days or weeks you had you got paid for it all on June 1st. It was your responsibilty to keep it if you needed it when you took days off. So if you never took your vacation days you just ended up with the extra pay. My DH still works there and that it still the way they do it there.

Jen

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Must be nice !! I can see where problems can start occuring for the company when they get these request,

My dh sold back his leave to the gov when he retired . His current job they buy back your vacation time only when you leave the company. Sounds like some of the people you work with needs the mycoupon board

I feel for you it looks like the owner doesn't have much of a backbone and gives in to everyone request leaving you look like the bad guy

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Angels may not come when you call them, but they'll always be there when you need them.

After lunch today, the boss decided the current policy isn't fair to those poor planners/budgeters since some have a lower hourly wage than others and "need" the money. I asked if we could just pay everybody a minimum $25 per hour (up front of course) to make it an even field.

He's going to pay them vacation whenever they want because "it's the right thing to do." Sigh.................thankfully I may be relocating by summer's end and in business for myself.