HELP! I'm trapped and I can't get out!

[easterclause]

Hi everyone,

I have a question concerning the government. Suppose I get bridged in immediately after finishing my degree, say in two years. My life will be gone. No more possibility to take three months and backpack Europe, for example. I will get two weeks off a year, maybe 3 weeks when I'm 26, maybe 4 weeks by the time I'm 35ish...

I'm just feeling trapped by it all...in January I was a university student with no immediate job prospects, and now I have my life laid out before me, and it just seems so dull. :( It's really got me down.

What kind of benefits do employees get for time off beyond vacation?

No smartass comments please, I know what I have and I appreciate it.

[Churo1]

No smart-assiness intended but...welcome to the work world. Thought you could be a student forever?

[nalababe]

Well look for a company that values time off...or a job that allows for it...

At 35, I had 5 weeks vacation plus 4 days of flex vacation.

Working for a larger company, I also get opportunities for trade shows/conferences quite regularly and meetings throughout the year. This year I have 5 day conference in Chicago, so I'm driving down but then extending my stay for another week....work pays for me to get down there.

Finally, why worry about what is ahead...in 2 years, 5 years...maybe you'll change your path. Instead of think about a career as a ladder, think of it as a jungle gym...ups, downs, lateral....lots of opportunity and excitement.

[Churo1]

Well look for a company that values time off...or a job that allows for it...

At 35, I had 5 weeks vacation plus 4 days of flex vacation.

Working for a larger company, I also get opportunities for trade shows/conferences quite regularly and meetings throughout the year. This year I have 5 day conference in Chicago, so I'm driving down but then extending my stay for another week....work pays for me to get down there.

Finally, why worry about what is ahead...in 2 years, 5 years...maybe you'll change your path. Instead of think about a career as a ladder, think of it as a jungle gym...ups, downs, lateral....lots of opportunity and excitement.

Easterclause, look at this post. This is how depressing the work world is. People like "nalababe" have to talk themselves into believing this new age hippy stuff to avoid the depressing reality of their jobs. Trust me there is nothing exciting about trade shows/conferences or out of town work trips.

[vavaju]

I dunno about you guys, but I get a special feeling down there during my weekly status meetings.

[Churo1]

I dunno about you guys, but I get a special feeling down there during my weekly status meetings.

I get a feeling like "who the **** actually cares about any of this horseshit?"

[beerbaron105]

put a couple years of hard work into a company and then request a month or two of unpaid leave, they would be foolish not to grant that to a diligent employee

[typoprone]

"Backpacking through Europe" is cliched and overrated and... totally unappealing (to me). :evil:

[kkvvpp]

Some places give you 6 or however many 'personal days' a year, you can extend your vacation with those.

Some places allow you to carry forward your vacation time a year.

In either scenario it blows.

I get a feeling like "who the **** actually cares about any of this horseshit?"

+1

Your views are almost as grim and pessimistic as mine which is kind of scary.

[mike24]

"Backpacking through Europe" is cliched and overrated and... totally unappealing (to me). :evil:

You have to be kidding? It's an awesome experience. There is so much to visit and do in Europe.

[UrbanPoet]

Easy solution.
Give me your job. You can take all the time off you want =)

[nyrz]

The benefit of being a teacher or professor = long summer (and winter) vacation

[heymikey]

Welcome to the club! :)

To make your feelings worse, I hope you realize that this will be your life for the next 40 years. Although I agree with what nalababe said -- a lot can change in 10 or 5 or maybe even 2 years from now. You might change paths; you might grow to love your job; you might even start a family and realize that it's possible to work from home, etc. Some opportunities might come your way for you to branch out, or you might decide to start your own business.

Anyway, you're still in your early-20's. You're still young and, something that I myself am slowly realizing for myself, time really is your most valuable asset right now. Nobody can take that away from you except you. You can still change majors in university; you still have time to figure out what you love to do; you can take a break and travel for a year or two; do a working holiday somewhere if you want; even start your own business (if it fails, who cares? You can always start over). Hell, you can even go to Hollywood if you want to try your luck as an actor.

[zod]

I've had a few jobs that will let you a Leave of Absense (unpaid of course). My current jobs allows it, but its subject to manager approval, which itself depends on how busy it is at work.

I've seen a few people get 6 weeks or several months. I've seen other people get flat out denied.

if business is quiet, then they save a little money if someone takes a leave...

[IceBlueShoes12]

Sounds like me.
I went to Europe for a month and am now job hunting.
I thought it would be best before getting a job seeing as we only get 10days off here.
Although when I'll get a job, who knows at this rate...

[sardaukar]

My life will be gone. No more possibility to take three months and backpack Europe, for example. I will get two weeks off a year, maybe 3 weeks when I'm 26, maybe 4 weeks by the time I'm 35ish...

I'm just feeling trapped by it all...in January I was a university student with no immediate job prospects, and now I have my life laid out before me, and it just seems so dull. :( It's really got me down.

Everyone knows the federal government is staffed with people who are overpaid and underworked, so don't complain.

If you want to go backpacking in Europe for 3 months, just take a frigging unpaid leave, on top of your 3 weeks vacation. Problem solved.

[chris0101]

Everyone knows the federal government is staffed with people who are overpaid and underworked, so don't complain.


Evidently, you have never seen life in the federal government for yourself. There are some people who loaf around certainly, but that is true at both private and public sector work. I have met people in government who regularly put in 60 hours a week and could have gotten better pay in the private sector.

Problem NOT solved. I have an idea that may or may not work. Find another job. Ask for the start date to be pushed back a month. Then you can quit your current job and switch to that job with some unpaid time off without any black marks. The hard part though is finding a good job that you want in this economy and one that is willing to push back the start date and be flexible.

[seadog83]

Keep on living the student life. You can live comfortably on a grand a month if you're not buying **** you don't need. Then quit your job after a year or two. You'll have banked 5 digits or so of coin, and if you're worth your salt you shouldnt have trouble finding another job, or maybe even going back to your old one if they liked you....

[sachinator]

Hi everyone,

I have a question concerning the government. Suppose I get bridged in immediately after finishing my degree, say in two years. My life will be gone. No more possibility to take three months and backpack Europe, for example. I will get two weeks off a year, maybe 3 weeks when I'm 26, maybe 4 weeks by the time I'm 35ish...

I'm just feeling trapped by it all...in January I was a university student with no immediate job prospects, and now I have my life laid out before me, and it just seems so dull. :( It's really got me down.

What kind of benefits do employees get for time off beyond vacation?

No smartass comments please, I know what I have and I appreciate it.

I'm sure there'd be tons of people out there who'd be willing to take your position and not even consider vacation time as a primary factor for selecting the job.

In these economic times, when people are losing jobs all over, it is disheartening to see others who are complaining regarding vacation time they'll have 10 years down the road.

[Adams06]

Hi everyone,

I have a question concerning the government. Suppose I get bridged in immediately after finishing my degree, say in two years. My life will be gone. No more possibility to take three months and backpack Europe, for example. I will get two weeks off a year, maybe 3 weeks when I'm 26, maybe 4 weeks by the time I'm 35ish...

I'm just feeling trapped by it all...in January I was a university student with no immediate job prospects, and now I have my life laid out before me, and it just seems so dull. :( It's really got me down.

What kind of benefits do employees get for time off beyond vacation?

No smartass comments please, I know what I have and I appreciate it.

Dude, why are you whining? You're set for life now. I just got bridged in with CRA and I'm not disappointed. Besides, you start out with 3 weeks paid vacation, full dental coverage, health plan, pension, etc...

I started out as a student with the government, worked about 5 years before being bridged in. Now I get to buy back my past service for pension purposes and what do you know, I've already got 3 years of work under my belt. Retirement at 55 is looking very, very good.

[nalababe]

Easterclause, look at this post. This is how depressing the work world is. People like "nalababe" have to talk themselves into believing this new age hippy stuff to avoid the depressing reality of their jobs. Trust me there is nothing exciting about trade shows/conferences or out of town work trips.

Actually there is...depending on your position and responsibility.

It can be much if that is all that you do...but right now I probably go to 2 major evetns/launches/trainings a year and 4 or 5 conferences/trade shows and they are nicely spaced out throughout the year. Normally our team has a great time...for the international shows it is great to meet old friends.

Typcially I build them into vacations...and how great is that: work foots the bill for transportation and even some of the stay. This year, I've had Frankfurt, Daytona, Philadelphia, St.Johns, New York and will have Chicago shortly. Nice hotels, good food, good friends...I have no complaints. For Chicago, I am driving down, taking the family and they are visiting friends while I am at the conference and I'll stay a 4 days afterwards...it's great.

Without this opportunity I would probably not have visited Germany, Japan, Chile and several cities in the US.

As a bonus, we use the airmiles/hotel points to fund our vacations: Last one was a 3 week stay in Australia (for three of us) where we had all flights and hotels free...

It can be a hassle if you are doing too many, but when spaced out properly they are a great time and opportunity.

Lastly, there is a difference between public and private sector. If I want to go to a major conference...I rarely get refused. Same with training, I want something paid for...and it makes business sense...done. No hassle.

[nalababe]

There are also other of opportunities to take extended leaves...

Vacation: end of year start of new year....I could take 3 months off in one shot...

Parental Leave: I took 8 weeks at full pay at the end of the first year and we went to England, Switzerland and France.

[angekfire]

Seriously, with a government job you can easily take the 3 months off after say, 10 years of working. Vacation time typically carries over from year to year, so use sick days & save 1 week vacation time each year. 10 weeks vacation time should be enough to do whatever you want/need, and the government gives a lot of time off. Then you get a paid vacation, just after a few years of working. Or cut the time in half by saving more than 1 week/year. Or by taking an unpaid leave.

There are lots of options, especially with the government, which is a secure job with amazing benefits, good wages, and tons of vacation time. Awesome health & dental plan, pension plan, the works.

[Prinsesa]

Well, its like:

1. Take the job, forget about backpacking for three months, instead, embrace the fact that you got a job right out of school while most graduates dont (especially in this recession) and know that after a year, you get two weeks off..PAID !

2. Don't take the job, go backpacking for three months and embrace the fact that you might not get the same job anymore :/ and it's government too, some people spend years trying to get a government job you know?

[showmethemoney2009]

I dunno about you guys, but I get a special feeling down there during my weekly status meetings.


You mean like constipated feeling? :lol:, yes status meetings tend to do that to ya.

[f00kie]

Easterclause, look at this post. This is how depressing the work world is. People like "nalababe" have to talk themselves into believing this new age hippy stuff to avoid the depressing reality of their jobs. Trust me there is nothing exciting about trade shows/conferences or out of town work trips.

OT, but why are you not perm. banned yet?

[Mulder and Scully]

Wait until you get laid off. Then you'll be deciding whether to go backpacking or spend every single day looking for a job and stressing about how you're going to pay the bills.

[Beachdown]

Not that you'd be able to go backpacking in Europe, but the federal government allows up to 66 days a year of leave to someone representing their country at an "international" level.

Hook up with any sports association that has national teams with competitions world-wide (think Olympics, Commonwealth Games, etc.), and you'll get time off for travel.

My brother was part of the coaching staff for a national team and travelled all over the world, while working for CRA. Good times.