Moderators on vacation

[TannyL]

For 2 companies I've worked for in the past, newbies usually start off with only 2 weeks vacation time. As time goes by and you can slowly earn 3 weeks (or more) off per year, etc. 4 weeks standard would be awesome though (I thought only managers and higher ups would get that much)

A year has 365 days so having 30 free days doesn't seems so much. I really feel sorry for those you only have 2 weeks of vacation.

Hi Anelly,
4 years ago I worked as a zoo keeper at the local zoo. It was a dream come true, this was the one and only thing I ever wanted to do in my life, and when I found out there is an opening I knew this is the job I am going to keep till I am 65.

But a year later they changed the management and it became the horrible job I ever had. We never took a day of. Out of 30 days in a month I worked 28 or 29 days, without vacations, working over time without getting paid. I tried to convince myself I am doing it for the animals.

When I noticed i cannot help the animals anymore, I quit my job and swore I will never work on weekends and holidays anymore!!!

[Kevin Lee]

A year has 365 days so having 30 free days doesn't seems so much. I really feel sorry for those you only have 2 weeks of vacation.

Hi Anelly,

In "Quality vs. quantity in work, life" by Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek, they say "Americans take the least amount of vacation time in the industrialized world. On average, we receive 14 days of vacation per year. And we don't even take the time we have. According to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Americans leave 439 million vacation days unused every year (an aggregate total of 1.2 million years), and more than a third of American workers take fewer than seven vacation days a year.

According to writer Steve Rushin, 'In England [where workers get 24 vacation days], leisure and pleasure rhyme. In the United States, leisure rhymes with seizure.'"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... work-life/

It would be interesting to find the statistic on the average number of vacation days an entrepreneur takes. If you have to work from home, it means you're no longer on vacation.

[GT Bulmer]

... According to writer Steve Rushin, 'In England [where workers get 24 vacation days], leisure and pleasure rhyme. In the United States, leisure rhymes with seizure.'"
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... work-life/
...

I hear that! (But again, I dramatize because I DO work from home and I DO typically work at my own pace ... which, sometimes, is pretty "leisurely," as the Brits would say.)

GT

[Kevin Lee]

Well what happens if you own a store or bar/restaurant? You're up at the crack of dawn to do prep work, and the last one there late at night closing... open 7 days a week... what can such an entrepreneur do for time off? Hire a trusted manager?

[Alan Mater]

Well what happens if you own a store or bar/restaurant? You're up at the crack of dawn to do prep work, and the last one there late at night closing... open 7 days a week... what can such an entrepreneur do for time off? Hire a trusted manager?

Hi Kevin,

I would say hiring a trusted manager would be a very smart move. This not only frees up time for the owner, but it relieves the owner of many responsibilities.

As far as my vacation time, I usually don't take it. I may go get away for a day, but that's it. When I'm at home, I work at my own pace and try not to push myself. I want to enjoy the time and not feel pressured. That in itself is somewhat of a vacation for me. However, actually getting away and going somewhere for say a week rarely ever happens. And, I never just stop and not do any work at all for an entire week when I'm at home. I would feel lazy for not doing any work.

When I had a full-time job, I used my vacation time. First, I hated the job, so I took every chance I could to take off. I started out with 5 days, then after a couple years, I had 10 days. I took off a day here and there, usually a Monday or Friday. I always took 5 days off for the first week of hunting season to go to camp for the week. I also had sick days and could take days without pay if I had to.

[TannyL]

Hi Everyone,
A new month and we are still on holiday, till next week. I have planed each day we are going to have a lot of fun this week, and it includes a visit to the chocolate factory.

See you all next week.

[GT Bulmer]

Hi Everyone,
... we are going to have a lot of fun this week, and it includes a visit to the chocolate factory.
See you all next week.

Chocolate factory!? Take me with you!
When you're there, say "Hi" to Charlie for me.

GT

[Alan Mater]

Hi Everyone,
... we are going to have a lot of fun this week, and it includes a visit to the chocolate factory.
See you all next week.

Chocolate factory!? Take me with you!
When you're there, say "Hi" to Charlie for me.

GT

LOL... that's a good movie.

Tanny, hope you have a lot of fun. What chocolate factory is it?

If anyone is ever in Central PA, Hershey's Chocolate Factory is a must to visit. The tour is a little cheesy compared to what it used to be, but it's still good.

[GT Bulmer]

If anyone is ever in Central PA, Hershey's Chocolate Factory is a must to visit. The tour is a little cheesy compared to what it used to be, but it's still good.

... And if you're too busy (or too much of a homebody like some of us ), you can take a Hershey tour online here - video included:

http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-En ... ummary.php

GT

[Alan Mater]

If anyone is ever in Central PA, Hershey's Chocolate Factory is a must to visit. The tour is a little cheesy compared to what it used to be, but it's still good.

... And if you're too busy (or too much of a homebody like some of us ), you can take a Hershey tour online here - video included:

http://www.evancarmichael.com/Famous-En ... ummary.php

GT

That's the first time I watched that video, and I must say it's very intriguing. Some of the information I knew about him, but some I didn't. Sure puts things into perspective about never giving up.

[Kevin Lee]

Hi Kevin,

I would say hiring a trusted manager would be a very smart move. This not only frees up time for the owner, but it relieves the owner of many responsibilities.

Hi Alan,

While hiring a manager maybe the right move, I think that most entrepreneurs are reluctant to hand over control of "their baby" to someone else. In addition, it's difficult to find a "trusted" manager who will not only continue to grow your business, but stay honest.

[Alan Mater]

Hi Kevin,

I would say hiring a trusted manager would be a very smart move. This not only frees up time for the owner, but it relieves the owner of many responsibilities.

Hi Alan,

While hiring a manager maybe the right move, I think that most entrepreneurs are reluctant to hand over control of "their baby" to someone else. In addition, it's difficult to find a "trusted" manager who will not only continue to grow your business, but stay honest.

Those are very good points, Kevin, and I don't disagree. I guess it depends on the entrepreneur and the business situation.

[David Hurley]

Hi Everybody,

I'm not on vacation; quite the opposite. I took on several extra classes this term at one of the colleges where I teach English without cutting myself any slack elsewhere in my schedule.

It is proving to be a challenge to keep up with my games-shop orders and turn out articles for my PLR service so everything else is pretty much on hold right now...

DH

[MichelleJ]

Hi Everybody,

I'm not on vacation; quite the opposite. I took on several extra classes this term at one of the colleges where I teach English without cutting myself any slack elsewhere in my schedule.

It is proving to be a challenge to keep up with my games-shop orders and turn out articles for my PLR service so everything else is pretty much on hold right now...

DH

Good luck with all of that David, I know how frustrating it can be when we take on more than we should and then try to do it all. Invariably something will suffer for it somewhere along the line.

MichelleJ

[Alan Mater]

Invariably something will suffer for it somewhere along the line.

MichelleJ

Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Hang in there, David. I know you can do it.