Oops, I mean "lose".

yk,
Amen!
Worked part time (27-37 wks a year - no nights, no w/e) since Sept '94 to avoid the suicidal schedule/risk and haven't worked at all since 29 Aug '03.
Best time of my entire life!
M

Since I am part owner of two small companies, it varies. So far I've taken eight days. I might not take any more since we are so busy at both.

However, the good thing about being a part owner is that there is another owner of both businesses, too. So if something comes up (a great airfare to Paris at Christmas time, for instance), I can take advantage of it.

Next year, I will take three weeks to go to Italy in the Fall. My wife has four weeks vacation next year, so if she meets a handsome Italian guy, she can stay an extra week.
((H))

As much as I like (or as I can afford) ... I'm a freelancer.

The company that I work for initially approached me, rather than my going to them. They know I like to travel, so their offer was that I could take off whenever I need to. I feel very blessed to be in a situation that I can take the time off work to travel as much as I please.

My husband gets three to five weeks off per year, depending on how busy his company is. So, we do have to work around his schedule in planning trips.

AR -

In the US there is no such thing as sick leave entitlement. If you have a union conract rules will cover what you are allowed. Otherwise your employer decides what they want to offer - 5 or 6 days per year seems about average. And it is to be used only if you are actually sick - at most places you get extra credit for coming in to work when sick - proving you are willing to bleed for the company. Someone who actually takes all of their sick time every year will distinctly not be on the fast track - and it will be mentioned as a negative at your review.

Thanks nytraveler.
What happens if, say, you broke your leg and needed 3 months off? Would insurance or something kick in or would your employer pay you at full rate?

I work perdiem-straight pay, no bennies. But I can take vacation as much as and whenever I want. Of course it helps to have a spouse who has health insurance for the family.

I get a bit over 5 weeks vacation time a year, and 3 weeks sick leave. Watching the calendar for holidays and how they related to weekends each year, I can get 6 weeks in a row if I want it. But Mrs. Fly doesn't like to be away from home that long, so we usually do one 2-3 week vacation, and a couple of smaller ones each year. She's a teacher, so our vacations are usually in the summer or around Christmas.

AR, different employers in the US offer different benefits. My company gives us PTO (Paid Time Off) days instead of vacation and sick days. PTO days include your vacation days plus 6 additional days that used to be called "sick days." We can now take PTO days for whatever reason we like. But if we use up all our PTO days, then get sick, any additional time off would be without pay.

For absences longer than 6 days (injury, illness, maternity leave, etc...) we would go on short-term disability and receive full salary for 6 weeks. For illnesses longer than that, you would go on long-term disability and receive a portion of your salary.

I get 20 paid holiday, 12.5 vac days, and buys 4 extra days (instead of getting $600).

I try to clump my vac days with the holidays (3-4 wks in Christmas) so I get to take a bigger chunk of time off.

Definitely not enough time off.

Mind you I work a 3 day work week. I get 12 days vacation, 3 days personal, and 13 days holiday. works out to be about 9 weeks off a year.