Holidays - necessary?
Discussion
Might be a health thread really. But being new to contracting I'm wary of taking holidays because it means not getting paid. If you're working 40 hours a week mon-fri plus commuting time do you really need holidays? If I go a couple of years with only odd days off for special occasions will I suffer any ill effects?
I've known people who do it, on the other hand I've been told my work might start to suffer. And the people I've known who have gone years without holidays have a lot of freedom as to which 40 or 50 hours in the week they actually work, which must make it easier.
I've known people who do it, on the other hand I've been told my work might start to suffer. And the people I've known who have gone years without holidays have a lot of freedom as to which 40 or 50 hours in the week they actually work, which must make it easier.
I'd only had one holiday in the last three years as a contractor, until right now when I'm taking a week off between contracts 
So no, I don't think you *need* to take time off.
It's probably a common story but when I started as a contractor I thought "great, I can afford to take 12 weeks holiday and I'll still be earning a packet" except, of course, the reality is that (1) I always feel too busy to be able to take any time off and (2) even if the client/project allows it, you look at the net cost including lost income and think "sod it" as a cheap fortnight break suddenly costs many thousands of pounds.
So no, I don't think you *need* to take time off.It's probably a common story but when I started as a contractor I thought "great, I can afford to take 12 weeks holiday and I'll still be earning a packet" except, of course, the reality is that (1) I always feel too busy to be able to take any time off and (2) even if the client/project allows it, you look at the net cost including lost income and think "sod it" as a cheap fortnight break suddenly costs many thousands of pounds.
There is evidence that you can work really hard for quite a long period without breaks, but once you hit the threshold, your performance and health rapidly deteriorate. It's difficult to put a specific time on it as each individual and what they are doing is different. The trouble is, we ourselves are not the best at spotting when we may be getting close to that point. Others can tell when we've passed it though, but by then the trouble has begun. Take a holiday!
k is the point of earning loads of money if you can't enjoy spending it. I've not had a decent holiday in 30 months, though there have been a few single weeks.Depends how old you are. You can get burn out if you don't recharge your batteries and as said your effectiveness and health will be affected. You must really really love your job if life is not worth having a break and good holidays with family/friends. There is much more to life than working 40 hours a week (I am not work shy).
marshalla said:
Surely the "premium" paid to contractors is there to make up for the absence of holiday pay (amongst other things) ?
No point being the richest man in the graveyard. No tombstone ever says "He wished he'd worked harder" etc. etc.
In my case the 'contractors premium' covers about 2 days off a month, so bank holidays often use that up. No point being the richest man in the graveyard. No tombstone ever says "He wished he'd worked harder" etc. etc.
Dr Jekyll said:
marshalla said:
Surely the "premium" paid to contractors is there to make up for the absence of holiday pay (amongst other things) ?
No point being the richest man in the graveyard. No tombstone ever says "He wished he'd worked harder" etc. etc.
In my case the 'contractors premium' covers about 2 days off a month, so bank holidays often use that up. No point being the richest man in the graveyard. No tombstone ever says "He wished he'd worked harder" etc. etc.
spikeyhead said:
Then why are you contracting? Unless there's a 50% premium it's not worth it.
It's that or the dole queue.To clarify, the 'premium' is the difference between my contract rate and what I got in the job I was made redundant from. Allowing for pension contribs I'm worse off even if I take no time off at all, so you can understand my reluctance.
Edited by Dr Jekyll on Friday 30th December 17:22
People who work too hard and take no holidays end up with no friends or family as they slowly drift away as every minute spent with them is time that could have been spent earning. Personally I'd follow my wife's Cousin's solution work from wherever so a jet all over the place with his GF and still be working.
Think about it - you set yourself a target of 5 years to keep earning, and then you'll have enough money to not care about taking a long break and unwinding. The last morning, you're walking into the office, thinking of those long 5 years, remembering how hard you worked, thinking how much you've earned this break. Thinking of how nice it will be to relax with your wife again, rebuild the relationship and start afresh.
Unfortunately you're so engrossed in thought, that you don't look before crossing the last road and BAM.
As you lie slowly bleeding to death on the tarmac, the pain of a crushed pelvis searing through you, what do you think your final thoughts would be?
Unfortunately you're so engrossed in thought, that you don't look before crossing the last road and BAM.
As you lie slowly bleeding to death on the tarmac, the pain of a crushed pelvis searing through you, what do you think your final thoughts would be?
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