Comments on: I worked while on vacation. Do I get my vacation time back?

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 14:56:20 +0000

In reply to Dave Nerz. Those things are all possible, but it is also genuinely possible that the boss just expected the employee to do "a little thing" while on vacation or that employee is in a field or position where they are always on call.

By: Peoplehum

Peoplehum — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 05:12:41 +0000

South East Asia comprises of countries at varied levels of development. As a booming business hub, it brings a variety of challenges for HR in the region. Read this article to learn how South East Asia is posed to overcome these challenges. https://www.peoplehum.com/blog/overcoming-hr-challenges-in-a-diverse-south-east-asia

By: MariaRose

MariaRose — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 23:29:55 +0000

An excellent article concerning an issue dealing with what is PTO for an exempt employee. Part of the exempt employee work “schedule” is the ability to control the use of their hours to get a job completed. Some companies require a clock in form of access to the work programs, others have a job completion setup. What I am trying to say is how accessible is the exempt employee to their employers should be already part of their work contract. I also assumed, which was not clarified by the questions sent to the EvilHR lady, was how notification of using PTO is given to immediate supervisors. I am not aware of any workplace situations where employees just take PTO without some kind of notice, except for emergency situations and those situations are usually argued into a covered benefit of paid PTO offered by the company. Exempt employees may feel that they aren’t required to follow the in-person schedule program but they are part of the staffing needs to get the required work done. Either way, I don’t get the why behind the immediate supervisor to contact an employee on PTO and why the exempt employee felt the need to correspond to work emails, calls. texts, etc while on PTO. Life does go on and the workplace will still be there after the PTO. Just set limits when using PTO, instead of nitpicking time used by work contact. There is the power of saying NO contact while on PTO.
I got the impression that this individual is a Type A worker, and feels like they have to answer every time the boss calls, instead of letting the boss know that they are on PTO and then blame the boss for bothering them. Exempt employees get PTO just like every other benefit, after all, they control their own schedules.

By: Chucky Cheezburger

Chucky Cheezburger — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 22:53:17 +0000

This is why you don’t respond to texts, calls, and e-mail when you’re on vacation unless it is understood beforehand that you are expected to do so…and being expected to work on your vacation is an utter load of B.S. Thats not a vacation. Thats working remotely. If I were in this situation, I’d be claiming every minute I worked as work.

By: Mr "Not Here". Sorry (not!)

Mr "Not Here". Sorry (not!) — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 21:20:12 +0000

I’m sure this is why a lot of my coworkers say they’re vacationing in the boondocks and will have only limited or sporadic access to the internet. Well, I know my wifi coverage is pretty dicey in the far corners of my lot…

By: Dave Nerz

Dave Nerz — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:22:29 +0000

I feel like we are missing something. Either the boss does not understand when the employee is on vacation, the employee left some routine work undone that should have been done before departing for vacation, or the employee is taking ASAP to mean something other than what it really means. As soon as possible would likely mean when you are back from vacation to the typical boss. You could always ask. If they do not have the kind of relationship where a simple, “can I wait until I return from my vacation to get on this?”, in not ok, then there are bigger problems.

Where is the common sense in this question?

By: Bel

Bel — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 17:21:54 +0000

Thank you for your time and your response! All very helpful information.

By: Joanna B.

Joanna B. — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 16:08:00 +0000

I am the HR Manager, but I wear many other hats in my job. I feel I am expected to be available while on vacation if my boss or someone needs me. I always take my laptop with me and can remote in to my work computer. So, if I do work while on vacation, I keep track of my time, and will add that back on to my PTO when I return. My boss has not had any issue with it.
It’s not fair to ask someone to do work during their vacation and not compensate them for it.