Am I entitled to paid vacation days?

Time away from work to rest and recharge is vital to maintain a healthy and motivated workforce. That is why many employers consider vacation a necessary part of the employment agreement rather than a luxury. That being said, not everyone who works receives vacation days. There is no legal mandate that requires employers to provide vacation time, regardless of an employee’s status. Many people falsely assume that they are legally entitled to paid vacation if they work full time, but sadly, that is not the case. 

Below is a summary of the most common types of vacation that employers can and do offer. Since vacation time is not legally mandated, it is important to ask about time off during the interview and hiring process to ensure that you understand the company’s policies. 

Common types of vacation that employers offer:

• Paid vacation: Most employers offer paid time off to full-time employees, but it is not guaranteed. Some benevolent employers even offer paid time off to part-time employees. If your employer does offer vacation time, you may be awarded a certain amount of days off a year. You may accrue time off with every day that you work, or you may even be offered “unlimited” time off, which is newly popular among employers who trust their workforce to make responsible decisions.
• Use-it-or-lose-it time off: This type of time off expires after a certain amount of time. Some companies give their employees one year to use their time off before they forfeit the time, and in the case of floating holidays, some companies are even stricter with their timelines. For example, if you volunteer to work on Thanksgiving Day, you may be awarded a floating holiday that you can take any time during November. 
• Unpaid time off: If your employer offers unpaid time off, you can step away from work, but you will not earn money when you do so. This is more common in the part-time workforce who do not receive benefits from their companies.

Remember to always inquire about time off policies in your workplace. Rules and regulations change, so it is crucial to keep abreast of what is up to date within your organization. If you need legal representation or support surrounding the use of paid vacation days, then contact Para Los Trabajadores for help and assistance.