Annual leave amount for experienced new starters?
Discussion
Having been in the same job for the last 15 years I'm really not up to speed on what's what when you get a new job, however, something didn't seem right to me when the OH told me what some companies she's been looking at were offering...
So far, three of the places she's applied to were only offering 20 days (plus bank holidays) of leave. I could understand it if they were looking to attract graduates or school leavers, but if you appoint someone with ten years of experience can you seriously expect to get off starting them on the minimum legal amount of annual leave? I realise a new starter at a company can't expect to immediately enjoy the benefits that a long-standing employee has accrued, but I thought they'd at least lean some way toward reflecting the benefits that said employee was used to having become well established in their career...
Or is it just me that's out of touch?
So far, three of the places she's applied to were only offering 20 days (plus bank holidays) of leave. I could understand it if they were looking to attract graduates or school leavers, but if you appoint someone with ten years of experience can you seriously expect to get off starting them on the minimum legal amount of annual leave? I realise a new starter at a company can't expect to immediately enjoy the benefits that a long-standing employee has accrued, but I thought they'd at least lean some way toward reflecting the benefits that said employee was used to having become well established in their career...
Or is it just me that's out of touch?
Rotary Madness said:
If thats not including bank holidays, then 3 weeks leave is hardly bad to start out with. Maybe see after 12 months if theres room for it to expand?
The legal minimum is 28 days per year (which can include bank holidays), so basically they're offering the legal minimum by offering 20 days + bank holidays. Surely if they want to attract experienced people who, due to their experience, will be more used to having nearly 30 days + bank holidays, then they'll reflect this in the package?Rotary Madness said:
Sign of the times I guess, if theyre getting lots of applicants, some of whom are desperate for work and willing to accept that, why offer more then the minimum?
Understandable in the current climate, but a sure-fire way to hiring the most desperate person rather than the most competent.Rotary Madness said:
Only thing I could say is go for it, then see if you could ask for more, instead of asking for a slightly higher wage?
Yes, if it got to the offer stage I guess it could be a point of negotiation.MitchT said:
Surely if they want to attract experienced people who, due to their experience, will be more used to having nearly 30 days + bank holidays, then they'll reflect this in the package?
I guess if it's really an issue with candidates, then the company will get the message when no-one takes up their job offer.I suspect most people aren't that bothered.
MitchT said:
The legal minimum is 28 days per year (which can include bank holidays), so basically they're offering the legal minimum by offering 20 days + bank holidays. Surely if they want to attract experienced people who, due to their experience, will be more used to having nearly 30 days + bank holidays, then they'll reflect this in the package?
30 days + BH ? I don't know anyone who gets that (flex options aside).
Crafty_ said:
crikey, are you ever actuaally there ? 
That said I do a 4.5 day week, so I guess it balances out.
It's not as cushy as it sounds. I was promoted recently (which gave me 5 extra days annual leave), but went from a 37 hour contract to one which simply said 'do the hours required to fulfill the role'. So I probably put in 50 hours a week easily, plus sometimes work at home over the weekends.That said I do a 4.5 day week, so I guess it balances out.
I also get to the end of the year with holiday left over (finding time to even have a couple of days off is very hard). We can roll 5 days over, so all is not lost. So ask me next year- I'll probably have 36 days to use up!
STW2010 said:
It's not as cushy as it sounds. I was promoted recently (which gave me 5 extra days annual leave), but went from a 37 hour contract to one which simply said 'do the hours required to fulfill the role'. So I probably put in 50 hours a week easily, plus sometimes work at home over the weekends.
I also get to the end of the year with holiday left over (finding time to even have a couple of days off is very hard). We can roll 5 days over, so all is not lost. So ask me next year- I'll probably have 36 days to use up!
Yeah, there is always a trade off. I get a 4.5 day week because I'm only contracted for 35 hours, always end up doing more though, which doesn't bother me and I don't claim overtime for it (well, under 40hrs anyway).I also get to the end of the year with holiday left over (finding time to even have a couple of days off is very hard). We can roll 5 days over, so all is not lost. So ask me next year- I'll probably have 36 days to use up!
Often have the same problem with holiday roll over, I squeezed in a load of holiday at the end of last year to use it and still brought some over to this year, so I have 31 days to take this year.
I guess 50 hour weeks are fine, provided you enjoy the work!
Greg66 said:
bigandclever said:
I'm struggling to see why any job advert would contain more than the bare minimum the employer is trying to get away with?
Conversely: pay peanuts, get monkeys. Not everyone wants a workforce of monkeys.
But, surely, the advert is just the opening position - it's not the actual offer.bigandclever said:
I get that But, surely, the advert is just the opening position - it's not the actual offer.
Depends how big the company is - the bigger the company, the more difficult it is to flexible about 'visible' benefits. But, surely, the advert is just the opening position - it's not the actual offer.In my last biggish company job we lost someone who had 4 kids because they car policy wouldn't allow him to have a people carrier. The HR Director made sympathetic noises but wouldn't do it due to potential can of worms it would have opened.
Everyone at our place including directors & the MD have 20 days + BH's.
Nearly everybody i know gets 20 days + BH, the only exceptions being a friend of mine who seems to get holiday on hours worked, it basically works out about every 3-5 months he gets about 5-6 weeks off as he works such long shifts in the time he's there!
Nearly everybody i know gets 20 days + BH, the only exceptions being a friend of mine who seems to get holiday on hours worked, it basically works out about every 3-5 months he gets about 5-6 weeks off as he works such long shifts in the time he's there!
25 plus BHs here. I suppose it's just 'part of the package', i.e. some places will have a list of benefits and the quality of this package plus the salary will attract acertian quality of candidate. If the package is crap then they'll simply not attract a high calibre of employee.
As someone above said, 'You pay peanuts, you get monkeys'
As someone above said, 'You pay peanuts, you get monkeys'
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