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The title says it all.
I must admit last year was a little unusual (even by my standards)...normally I'd take about 20 days a year at most. This year I'm working for myself so time off (of any kind) is likely to be somewhat unpredictable...
Anna
Riverblade Ltd - Software Consultancy Services
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
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Three and a half months!? That's more than the number of day-offs I had in last three years!
Norman Fung
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I took friday night off (Did I cheat? Everyone takes friday off every week)
Norman Fung
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Maybe it's a UK thing, but until I started working for myself I'd never been asked to work between Christmas and New Year...usually the company would shut down by Christmas Eve, and reopen on the first weekday following New Year.
This year's different of course...we've so much to do! For example, today is hook-up-a-new-server day...
Anna
Riverblade Ltd - Software Consultancy Services
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
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Competition competition and competition. That's three boring words we keep hearing over and over again.
Norman Fung
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Sorry, I might sound a little negative, but... I'm working tonight (1-JAN-2005).
Norman Fung
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That's fair enough, if they give you a fair share of the profits. If on the other hand you receive no dividends or bonuses I'd say they're probably taking advantage. What's the situation there like?
Anna
Riverblade Ltd - Software Consultancy Services
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
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I'd say... I think the company didn't "intend" for this to happen, that from speaking to these people, I understant that management didn't really intend to "push" it so hard... But, isn't it "very" common in our business (industry as a whole...) that we "overcommit", not building "decent" buffers into our planning? When was the last time you see a project that is delivered on time? And within budget? I think there's no magic bullet - The only thing that can gaurantee ontime delivery is to be realistic (put in "decent" amount of buffers, as more often than not, detours happens). If you plan too aggressively, something is bound to break.
Norman Fung
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That's too true unfortunately...I usually find that to give accurate estimates, everyone on the team has to be willing to take part in the planning and estimating process...which of course leaves less time for development.
In an atmosphere where everyone is pressured and the company isn't even sure what it wants (but wants oit yesterday) planning and documentation are all too often the two things that go out of the window first. Even worse, adequate testing often follows - with all too expected results.
Anna
Riverblade Ltd - Software Consultancy Services
Anna's Place | Tears and Laughter
"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch
"Anna's just a sexy-looking lesbian tart"
- A friend, trying to wind me up. It didn't work.
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I think it's just a trend these days most projects are under-funded, with unrealistic expectation. And why? Cost cutting, competition... and perhaps just personal ego that overtime somehow indicates your personal success (That's an old tune isn't it...) So, I dont think I'm alone here. There're many people I know who's working during this festive season.
Norman Fung
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2 days for every month of work,
so
11*2 = 22
"There is no sin in making an error - we all do, and that's how we learn. Sin lies in letting stand an error, once we discover it, without correcting it." Roger Wright
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Here in Croatia, we have minimum 18 days (without public holidays), and they are a must employer must give their employees.
This past summer we (my G-friend and me) went to the south of Croatia, to some of the most beautiful islands one can find (http://www.tz-vis.hr/). In february we will go for a week to Italy or Austria to skii.
And then I forget it all about the work... even though I own the business, I need to take time off, so that I can come back with fresh ideas and new enthusiasm.
---
Hrvoje Kevic, BSCS&M
Tehning d.o.o.
hrvoje.kevic@tehning.hr
Creating partners, modernizing customers.
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Paid vacations has not become a norm in India yet, (may be because the govt sector has too many holidays anyway) but it is slowly catching up in high profile pvt sector.
Typically many of us take 3/4 days off before or after Diwali or Xmas vacations so that we have 7 to 10 days off, and go on a picnic with family. Fortunately India has a whole lot of fascinating tourist destinations. Many of us also visit their parents place/hometown and enjoy there for a week or so.
The singles spend their vacations on group outings or adventure activities like trekking and so on or just chill out in front of their favorite entertainment boxes. Movies, dining with GFs/BFs and relaxing at a resort are also fav options.
Salil Khedkar [^]
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In Pune, the best I have had so far is 18 paid leaves in a year (sick/casual and those kinds) but no paid vacations so far... But I have worked with only small (30+) to medium (100+) size companies so far. I hear from the friends working for the biggies that they do offer paid vacations for some positions.
My first company had the policy of cash bonus for leave balance. That was yummy... I still remember the joy when I saved 10 or so leaves and spent the thousands that I got after encashing them to fund my new bike... But now I probably would not do that. When one has a family his time become more valuable than his money.
I love the software industry... especially when it comes to employee benefits. It’s the best!
Salil Khedkar [^]
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Oh ye u better belive it, taking a year out sure is great :]
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I wish I also could
Happiest man
#define __ARMEN_H__
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I've done that too and highly recommend it. I took 14 months myself; hope to do it again in about 2 years...
T'Man
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I used to only take public holidays only. But now as I cannot trade holiday days in for cash I have to take them or lose them.
Enforced idleness is a terrible thing.
If you vote me down, my score will only get lower
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I've tried to take about 3 weeks this year, but it never seems to completely work out. Being a one man show, it's not possible to tell customers that you're on vacation when they have issues they want addressed immediately.
An incentive to grow the business to the point I need full time help, so I can put 'I'm on vacation until {Insert Date}, if this is a support issue please call {employee}' on my voice mail.
One of the down sides to self employment. On the other hand, I'm not worrying about having my job outsourced any more...
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Starting next year, I will finally get that coveted three weeks (paid) vacation a year.
An expert is somebody who learns more and more about less and less, until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.
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I get 4 weeks of paid time off a year. This year I've taken about 3 weeks of it thus far, none of which I've used for relaxation. Two weeks were for my wife's hospitalizations, and the other week in various doctor's appointments and 'I-gotta-get-this-done-at-home' kinds of things.
Anybody else in the same boat?
Software Zen: delete this;
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