How do you use your annual leave?

[KM38]

Do you take a couple of 2 week holidays a year? Single days/long weekends here and there? Individual weeks?

Had a conversation with SIL earlier and to me, her use of annual leave is crazy 🤣🙈

I go out of my way to maximise mine. I get 5 weeks and three days so usually take a 2 week, 2 x 1weeks and use the rest as and when needed for occasions etc 🤷🏻‍♀️
She gets the same, but takes 2x 1 weeks and the rest she uses for single days here and there to do...NOTHING 🤔😳 maybe it’s just me that can’t think of anything worse 🙈 like she’ll book a random Wednesday off to “break up her week and just sleep all day” 🤔

Just got me thinking 🤔

I get six weeks' leave per year and am part-time. The leave is booked in hours. Pre-Covid I'd take 1 x one week for a family holiday, hold 2 weeks in case of sick child (which usually meant I'd take at least 1.5 weeks off at end of leave year ), 2 weeks used in bits to make the most of bank holidays. 1 week as individual hours/days for things like covering last day of term, assemblies, stay and play.
The 1.5 weeks I often end up with I usually use for nice relaxing activities - sorting garden out, going for walks, meeting up with friends, trip to spa.

I get lots of annual leave with the NHS (>25 years service).
We work 3 shifts on and 3 shifts off (12hr shifts).
I book my annual leave so that I have a week off every month.
It takes some working out but with your 3 days off you can book annual leave and only use a couple of days of it and have a whole week off.

Most of my colleagues do the same. Love working 3 weeks and then having a week off 😀

I get about 7.5 weeks with BHs (10 years in NHS) and Ill take probably 3-4 weeks in 1 week chunks and because I work 3 long shifts a week and I self roster I will take the rest to maximise my days off in between shifts.

For example ill work mon and tues (24 hours) take 12 hrs A/L on the friday and following monday then work the following sat sun, meaning I get 10 days off for 24 hours A/L. I very rarely take 2 weeks because i can easily manipulate my roster to give me 14 days and only having 7 days as A/L.

I love taking days to do nothing. Which generally means I spend the day doing nice things with my toddler or occasionally I might send her to creche, do a few bits in the house and chill out in front of a film. It's good for my mental health, most of my leave goes on this or to cover child sick days. We can take up to 2 weeks unpaid a year tho and it just gets deduced from my wage so I often take a week or 2 in the summer unpaid which is nice too.

2 weeks annual leave in one block and 2 one week blocks, I try and used it around bank holidays because I’m also a volunteer medic and need to use a few days for training.

I only get just over 4 weeks so do 2x 1 week and the rest long weekends over Xmas and BH etc as my allowance is so piss poor (charity sector)

NHS so get a good allowance. But they don't like you to take 2 weeks off together 🙄. I take one week episodes off through the year, maybe 3 times. Then use the rest for long weekends or random half days. We also have to use annual leave for doctors/hospital/dentist/ appointments or childcare issues so we have to save a few days incase.

I get approx 6 weeks and DH gets the same.
We have primary age dc so it’s a bloody hard balancing act to try and cover the school holidays as much as we can while still getting a week or two where we are both off together so can go on holiday.

Still not figured out the whole of this summer yet 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pre children I was same as your SIL.

Two single weeks May and November.

Then odd days. Never used it all. Was partner in male dominated firm, absolute nightmare. No cover, dyes off were just not worth it. If I saw a quiet day emerging I would try and take it, maybe a Friday afternoon before a bank holiday. But then worked the bank holiday!

We probably take 3 individual weeks off then odd days for childcare in holidays and a few odd days to lounge. I really value a day off once a term without kids.

I use mine to book off school holidays so my kids don't set the house on fire whilst unsupervised.

Your SIL has the right idea if you ask me.

Taking days off to do nothing is one of my favourite things. You clearly don't approve.

Get 20 days after bank holidays taken out of allowance, can only be taken as whole weeks, odd days are never allowed. Have to give at least two months notice or request will refused by assistant manager who controls rotas so not much choice how to take it.

I get 30 days plus bank holidays (and this Tuesday for the Queen)
I normally take 2 weeks for a holiday, 1 at Christmas, a few days for my birthday and DPs birthday and save at least a week for random lounging about days. I think they’re the best use of annual leave, especially after a stressful period at work.

Use most of them for hospital appointments!
I'm off this week as booked off w/t/f to maximise the bank holiday off but generally I just take odd days as I'm not left with much after appointments

I get 5 weeks, my job is lovely and quite easy, plus I WFH so I don't have the same 'desperate for a break from it' as some people might have.

We're going away on Friday, so I've taken from next Thursday off to prepare so usually if we're going on holiday I'll just take the time that we're away plus a day or two. Then in things like the school holidays, I'll take a lot of Mondays & Fridays off, I also love odd days, for example in a few weeks I'm taking a day off while the DC are at school to get my hair cut. I usually take another day for Christmas shopping.

I like random holiday usage!

I get 35 days / 7 weeks. Always have 2 weeks in summer and over Christmas. A week at Easter, week at May half term, week at October half term. Because of bank holidays that leaves me a few days for long weekends etc

I try to use the bank holidays to take a big block off around easter and go on a 2.5 week holiday but by using 10 days or so, then usually another 2 weeks in the autumn to go on holiday. The other days I take as random long weekends. I MUST do something nice and out of the ordinary on any holiday day I have off otherwise I feel severely short changed. I couldn't imagine booking a day to lie in bed. My DH does this with some of his random days though. He's was sociable than I am and it's his idea of a good time.

@KnottedFern

NHS so get a good allowance. But they don't like you to take 2 weeks off together 🙄. I take one week episodes off through the year, maybe 3 times. Then use the rest for long weekends or random half days. We also have to use annual leave for doctors/hospital/dentist/ appointments or childcare issues so we have to save a few days incase.

That's not general "nhs" that's wherever you work, I approve 2 week blocks of annual leave frequently, it's only at peak periods and last minute requests that would be an issue. Anything longer than 2 weeks needs a special request, but 2 well holidays are pretty normal where I work.

I get 28 days AL. I take a week in the summer for family holiday, and a week over Christmas so I'm home with the kids.
The rest I save for ad hoc things. I took two days last week as I had an operation. Sometimes I take leave for hospital appointments etc.
I like to take occasional days off just for me.

I tend to have 1 x 2 week block a year, plus a couple of 1 week blocks, and then some long weekends. I love a random a/l day when kids are at school / nursery to do nothing too.

I usually take 4 x1 week breaks. One at Easter, two separate weeks in summer (if we aren't going away or it would be a two weeks together) one in October half term. I have an extra 5 days on top of that. Those het used for adhoc days here and there.

I take 3 weeks off in November or January, a week in September, a week in October, a week in December and usually carry 30 hrs on to the following year. If I need random days iff I ask someone for a shift swop. I only take days off if it us something in particular and there's no one to swop with.

Usually 2weeks off then another week at some point plus Christmas/new yr off. Days here and there maybe some long wkends but I work part time. I get very generous holidays and can build up flexi too. Will kit be doing 2 weeks this yr as not going abroad.

I have 33 days (further 8 for bank holidays).

I take the Thursday & Tuesday at Easter (2 days)
May Day week (4 days)
Whitsun week (4 days)
1 week in August (5 days)
August Bank Holiday week (4 days)
5 days at Christmas

Thats 24 days so I have 9 days left. I'll usually take a couple of long weekends, maybe maybe random day to doss if I'm particularly tired.

My schedule will change a bit next year as I'll have school age nieces and nephews. I'll swap May Day week for October half term and probably take an extra few days in the summer.