Ever been afraid to use your vacation days? Or is it just me?

starrdiva211

As of today, I have 35 hours worth of vacation time and there is just something in me that is saying, take some time off (besides the one day I have off when my mother comes). Even though something inside of me is telling me to go for it, another part of me is saying I shouldn?t because I was already out for two weeks in April (I was put on bed rest) and I am going to be out for 10 weeks and a day for my maternity leave (I have a long way to go in regards to that, I know) but it seems like I am doing somewhat of a disservice to where I work  if I do take some time away since I have already been out for those two weeks and since I will be out at the end of the year, going into next year?

The department I work in is only a department of two (myself and boss) so there is a little bit of guilt there too...

Now in order for me to use my FMLA/STD they do have to take a week away and I have calculated it up until that point where I would leave and I will be fine in that regards... I would still even have some rollover time. 

Am I just losing my mind and thinking way too much into this? Or do I need to listen to those commercials and take back my vacation?

KathrynMD

meh - I'd be conservative w/ my leave before going out on maternity leave.

you never know what will happen between now and then, so yeah, I'd keep a week in reserve.

brandyleighxx

I'm avoiding using vacation and/or sick days at all costs because I would like to use my 50 hours of vacation time I have left for 1 of the 6 weeks maternity leave. I also hope to save sick time in case needed before the end of the year.

I had the opportunity to have 2.5 days off last week (and so desperately need it at this stage of pregnancy) because it's hot and I work 10 hour days + 2 hour commute.... but thought better of it and saved the vacation time.

I'll thank myself later.

DelBride2012

KathrynMD:

meh - I'd be conservative w/ my leave before going out on maternity leave.

you never know what will happen between now and then, so yeah, I'd keep a week in reserve.

Plus, the new baby may need multiple lengthy doctor's visits, get a cold and have to stay out of daycare, daycare closes for a holiday, etc, etc. Dunno if OP is s FTM but a couple moms have come on here surprised by how much time they had to take off just because they have a kid.

Kie310

I never feel guilt about using my vacation time. It's yours & we don't get enough presonal time off as it is.

I am using up every last second of PTO time by Thanksgiving because I have a feeling I will end up on bedrest again this pregnancy (I went on bed rest with my first at 34 weeks because of PIH), and I'm likely to go there again.

I get 17 days a year. Use it or lose it. No reason to give that sh*t back to the company!! (my due date is Jan 3rd but if my placenta pervia doesn't clear up I'm looking at a c/s for the week of Christmas... I won't be back in the office until well into the new year & I will have a fresh 17 days to work with).

2-Step

If you need a break, use it! That is what it is there for. I try to keep a few days in reserve for emergencies, but I have no problem taking a "me" day or an extended weekend whenever I feel like it. I like vacation

preggersin2011

I don't understand the need for your employer to take away a week? Vacation and sick should be separate categories. You have to deplete your accumulated sick time before STD will pay you a penny, then between 6-12 weeks you can use other accrued time for a pay check if you employer doesn't give you anything else. My suggestion is to save at leave one week of vacation time because STD will deplete your sick time. Don't screw yourself over and return to work with no time off and then be up the creek w/o a paddle when LO needs to go to the doctor or you have to stay home for some other reason. Other than that take a long weekend or something like that.

After maternity leave somehow I still am maxed out on carrier overs for next year and its only July. I'm taking random time off for myself while LO goes to day care. 

ufmelissa

It could be worse.  My company takes 15 days of leave before STD kicks in, which coincidentally is all we get for the year (sick and vacation combined).  It kind of sucks because STD is only 6 weeks tops for vaginal delivery so that means I take my 3 weeks of leave, then I get 3 weeks of actual STD and then it's back to work for me.

Unfortunately I started late in the year last year so I barely have any additional leave in reserve so I just have to save what little I'll have left and hope it tides me over until January.

NicoleWI

I use all of my vacation time. Every year.

starrdiva211

preggersin2011:

I don't understand the need for your employer to take away a week? Vacation and sick should be separate categories. You have to deplete your accumulated sick time before STD will pay you a penny, then between 6-12 weeks you can use other accrued time for a pay check if you employer doesn't give you anything else. My suggestion is to save at leave one week of vacation time because STD will deplete your sick time. Don't screw yourself over and return to work with no time off and then be up the creek w/o a paddle when LO needs to go to the doctor or you have to stay home for some other reason. Other than that take a long weekend or something like that.

After maternity leave somehow I still am maxed out on carrier overs for next year and its only July. I'm taking random time off for myself while LO goes to day care. 

When I had to be on bed rest early in my pregnancy, all but four hours of my sick time was used. I contacted my FMLA person because I was very confused (also why I only had 10 weeks and a day for FMLA) and she stated that you have to use it concurrently. Since I have only like 4 hours of sick left, I have to use vacation time for STD to take affect. It is still kinda confusing though...