Unlimited Holiday

[ludwig]

What do people think of this ?

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29356627

[janbee]

Must be like being an MP

[mazie]

It doesn't say it they will get paid for these extra holidays?


I think it will work ludwig. If something if freely offered people (generally) tend not to take advantage of it

[ludwig]

This is the bit that worries me..

"The assumption being that they are only going to do it when they feel 100% comfortable that they and their team are up to date on every project and that their absence will not in any way damage the business - or, for that matter, their careers!"

..because if that was me, I'd never be able to take any time off at all, as those criteria would never be met. So whereas at first sight it looks like an incredibly liberating suggestion, it actually could just be a way of chaining people to their desk through guilt.

[chelle7272]

It's very good for staff morale, but I do wonder how it is dealt with if staff take time without respecting the needs of the company.

[naomi24]

I don't think it means staff can just wander off at will. I assume they'll have to tell the company when they'll be away so that jobs are covered in their absence, and that extended leave won't be paid. Taking all that into consideration, it sounds good to me. I hope it works.

[Svejk]

I only work on building sites and I wouldn't take a day off if I thought I was needed. Mind you, I know a few blokes who would.

[ummmm]

I think it would work. My OH never takes all of his holiday entitlement anyway.

[Old_Geezer]

It means many will not dare take much leave if they value their careers, whilst assuming it is paid leave I'm off until retirement date. Cheers.

[237SJ]

I think it would put pressure on staff to only take holidays when they are up to date on their work. I know plenty of people who take leave when they have ongoing projects/work because they are entitled to take it and they have holidays or things planned. If they felt that they couldn`t do that, then that would be a shame and they may feel discriminated against.

[wolf63]

It says that it is only his personal staff - no doubt all his 'Yes Men'. It could cause unrest within the company if the holiday entitlement was not the same for everybody.

[naomi24]

// I know plenty of people who take leave when they have ongoing projects/work because they are entitled to take it and they have holidays or things planned. If they felt that they couldn`t do that, then that would be a shame and they may feel discriminated against. //

Pleased I'm not their employer. They don't sound terribly reliable.

[Prudie]

I think he has an over idealistic view of his staff and their conscientiousness. I'm afraid a lot of people would abuse it. No ABers of course.

[naomi24]

If it's only his personal staff, he'd know them well enough to know they're not likely to abuse it.

[Prudie]

I'd missed the bit about his personal staff, if that's so then it might work well (I can only envisage it mapped onto my own working environment when deciding if it's a good idea or not).

[ludwig]

// I'd missed the bit about his personal staff //

Must admit, I hadn't seen that either. I couldn't see it being workable on a bigger scale.

[237SJ]

I don`t quite know what you mean Naomi. Some people never clear their desks - they are involved in long term projects. Are you saying that they can never take leave? Have you heard of the working time directive?

[237SJ]

Yes, his personal staff which numbers 170 but with a view to extending the project to subsidiaries. It won`t work with his airline - I`d like to see what happens when the staff ask for unplanned time off.

[Prudie]

^shucks I'm flying them for the first time this Xmas, I'd hoped I might have spotted you!

[boxtops]

Like you, ludwig, I'd never get any time off. The nature of the job means there is always more in the offing.

[237SJ]

Me Prudie? Never flown Virgin.