“I need a vacation”
Young Jeezy
You, your partner and your kids need you to take PTO. Take a vacation and never look back. But, go back to work at some point.
The 10 day vacation package is near extinction. Why? Because “companies that switched to an unlimited PTO policy no longer need to pay for the people-hours spent tracking time off. And in states where employees who leave a job get paid for unused vacation days, companies no longer have to shell out when you quit.” (Fatherly)
It all starts right here in the states
Per FactorialHR, these states are the only that guarantee time off by state law:
Only twelve states plus Washington DC currently have legislated paid sick leave. Maine and Nevada, which both passed laws in 2019, have the only policies which explicitly say that state-mandated PTO is used for things other than illness.
- In Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, and Oregon, workers earn one hour of PTO for every 30 hours worked.
- For Connecticut, Washington, Maine, and Nevada, workers earn one hour of PTO for every 40 hours worked.
- In Rhode Island, workers get one hour of PTO for 35 hours work
- D.C. requires between 37 and 87 hours work for one hour of PTO (depending on the size of the business)
- Meanwhile, in Vermont, 52 hours of work earns one hour of PTO.
Good for them. Good for you, Dad. If you live there, then use those shits.
The problem is that we don’t take our vacation days
A Qualtrics study showed that Americans left 9.5 days of vacation on the table at the end of the year. And, “only about a quarter (27%) of U.S. employees used all their allotted paid vacation time.”
What the actual fuck, you ask? Well, it turns out that “fear of falling behind on work, fear of letting down a team and pressure from coworkers” (from the same Qualtrics study) were the primary reasons we didn’t take time off. We’d venture to add: we believe we’re “just too busy,” or fear of missing out on earned income, or missing opportunities for political sidling, or opportunities to prove our work ethic.
“Still, only 45% of U.S. employees get two weeks or less of paid vacation time each year, and nearly one in ten (9%) get none at all.” (from the same Qualtrics study)
It’s still an archaic badge of pride to check in everyday to work, despite the holidays and weekends to recharge yourself and spend time with your fam. Companies who support this kind of outdated “dedication” are a relic of the past. They are in the process of being dismantled, to their detriment. As employed Dads remain in the slack tide of this shift.
Fathers should use their paid time-off – yes, paid days for not working – to cleanse their mind, body and soul. This could be a day for you and you alone. Or a day with the family to catch a movie, a ball game, or a nap together. You can also take a full 10 days off for a family vacation. Yes, it’s true and legal! You can take 10 days off and come back to work relaxed, bonded with your fam, and mostly farmer tanned.
On the bad side, not taking vacation days can lead to burnout, bruised familial relationships and negative health consequences. By not taking a break every now and then, we’re not just missing out on smelling the flowers, we may end up a flower patch way earlier than we planned.
How does the U.S. compare using our Vacation days vs. the rest of the world?
Per FinanceBuzz, these countries crush it when it comes to paid time off:
- Brazil, the South American nation with the largest population, also has a strong paid vacation policy. Workers can get 30 vacation days a year, as long as they are not absent from their jobs on more than five days a year.
- The North African nation of Algeria guarantees its workers 2.5 days of paid vacation per month and up to 30 days off per year. That’s a generous job benefit, and some workers in the country’s south can gain an extra 10 or more days.
- France has one of the best sets of labor laws in that regard. Workers are guaranteed five weeks of paid vacation.
How about the U.S.? Well, as you’ve seen above only a few states guarantee time off, and we don’t have “federal paid vacation policy, making [us] one of only a handful of countries without guaranteed paid annual leave.”
Great companies in the U.S. offering great vacation day packages
Work for these companies, Dad! These are the top three companies that offer great time off – and give you money for vacation – that you should use (if you’re lucky enough to work for them and if you haven’t been laid off by them).
- Airbnb: Employees receive $2,000 in Airbnb travel credit each year. It’s distributed on a quarterly basis and can be used to book stays or experiences on the Airbnb platform.
- BambooHR: The firm offers employees $2,000 each year towards vacation expenses, such as hotel rooms and airfare.
- Calendly: The company grants every employee a $1,000 annual travel stipend, which can be used for hotels, flight, transportation or even staycation activities to help recharge locally during the pandemic.
Here’s how you could use your paid vacation days effectively
Parental Leave – Take It!
You have a newborn and the daily work will continue without you. We know this from personal experience, and we’re sure your colleagues will attest. If your company offers leave for a Mom or Dad, then take all of it. Remember, the US basically offers no parental leave. You will never again have this opportunity to change countless diapers and catch up late night on bingey shows (what’s up, Ted Lasso).
Mental Health Day
We need them more often than we assume. When your brain is fried from work at home and work at work. These are the days to shut down and recharge. For some, this means vegging out in front of the TV. For others, it’s time to get the house in order. No matter, Dad. Take the time and refresh! Your colleagues, partner, and children will appreciate it.
Sick Days
As Dads, we tend to power through. That ain’t it, my friend. Take the time to stay in bed, drink tea, and recover. You don’t need to be at that presentation even if it’s on Zoom and you can work mullet fake it. Unless your job depends on it. Then be there and fake it until you make or just crush that shit.
Any Random Day
Take a day. Any given day, Dad. Could be opening day of MLB with your kid. The premier of that movie you want to see. Could be with or without your kids and partner. Either way, you have the days off. So, use them!
