US
Given that it’s going to be a) a hot summer, b) in which there’s not necessarily a huge amount of work to do, and c) things are getting better so additional redundancies are less likely, is now the time to extend the length of your holiday?
It emerged yesterday that Stephen Hester has negotiated a generous seven weeks’ annual leave at RBS.
Separately, the Financial Times is said to be encouraging staff to take an extra month’s holiday on 30% of their pay.
And Max Teichler, managing director for Germany at international insurance intermediary Willis, is using his company’s offer of taking two months’ off at 50% of salary to travel around Iceland in a camper van with his family.
Should you be doing something similar?
No
I am on a permanent holiday, having been laid off in February. Plan to spend the summer in rudimentary British campsites whilst checking iPhone for alternative occupations.
Ever hopeful-Dont fancy your chances
Dont fancy your chances at all.
Other unemployed reprobates will inevitably beat you to the jobs on offer due to their iPhone S’s.
I’d take 50% pay for as long as they’d offer it, beats working by a long way
There is a culture in the UK that is all work work work (and reward reward reward) which is fair enough. As long as folk in the UK don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is the only way to work. Everyone in Europe and much of APAC have a far better Life Work balance. I know what I prefer, and apparently other senior staff too.
It should not be necessary, once you have reached to a level of work above processing that you are not required to be there every day, steady hand at the tiller and all that.
Middle Spread-ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Take it with caution. If the company can spare you for 2 months and don’t miss you during that time, they are also likely conclude that they can manage without you for an entire year or the next fifty….