Absolutely! Actually, once you are ready to go, you need a vacation more than ever!

Seems like something breaks, someone gets sick, or some other issue that requires immediate attention pops up. That coupled with my desire to have everything in order (laundry done up, bills paid, house tidy, etc.) makes for a hectic time. Oh, also travel details--early check-in on the computer, make sure neighbors or family have your info, and on and on....

Of course he lost his phone! You are getting ready to go on vacation. Have a wonderful time!

I always say I didn't feel like I needed a vacation until I got ready to go on one!

Ah, maybe this is why so many American workers don't TAKE vacations -- as compared to workers in other countries.

As you suggest, attitudes about vacations in Europe, for example, are much different than here. Labor law in most countries mandate at least 5 weeks of annual vacation, more in some places, and most everyone goes away for all or part of the time.

They don't have the "I pay for my vacation by doing excess work before I leave and after I return" experience in white collar jobs. Why? Because people cover for one another. The vacationer's co-workers will be designated to continue that person's work, return phone calls, supervise projects, etc., so that the person's responsibilities are taken care of in their absence. Why do co-workers do that? Because the favor is returned when they go on vacation.

The US work culture will come around to this practice eventually. It's not there now.

I didn't take a vacation for about eight years because boss would call two or three times a day for stupid stuff that certainly could have waited until I got back. He would not let anyone else touch anything in the office, so my desk would be piled with mundane things that my afternoon helper could have managed in my absence (part of the job she does every day, but she wasn't allowed to touch anything until I was back in the office).
The first vacation I did take, a friend and I went to visit my mom in Florida. Monday morning, 8:00 a.m. sharp (my office time), Boss called whining because he couldn't get on the internet and, "if you had paid the GD bill before you left" (they are an auto-pay from our checking account) ...
I started crying ... my girlfriend grabbed the phone and laid into him. He didn't call the rest of the week.
Now I make sure I take those two paid weeks every year. Whether I go anywhere or do anything or not. I just tell him I'm going camping and won't have cell service.
He manages to run around like a crazy person about three days before I leave trying to anticipate every little thing that may come up while I'm gone, or have something "critical" (and complex) that needs to be done before I leave (that has probably been in his "to do" folder for three months).

Sorry, but your boss sounds like a first class jerk with a maturity deficiency. The first incident of disrespectful behavior should have caused you to pack your bags. His behavior continues because you let him act that way.

It's too bad, a pleasant and happy workplace isn't unreasonable to expect. Someone whose manners and interpersonal skills are so lacking deserves to have a reputation in town that makes it hard for him to hire help.

How ever did he get to be your boss? After more than 8 years you only get 2 weeks paid? I happen to think that you deserve more - but that's just my opinion.

I hated taking holidays for only a week because no one would do the work, it would just pile up on the desk. And then when you get back it would take overtime to clear the stuff so that you were then caught up. So what is/was the point of taking holidays.

I'm crazy busy at work to and after I get back. I can't have anyone do my work as I'm the office manager. Actually, I do delegate a bit but I don't want to stress out the other workers because I know that they are crazy busy too.

I've been there 24 years. I just didn't take any time off for about 8 years because I got more stressed handling things by phone than by just coming in and *doing it* myself. I've never worked anywhere else (before this I was a waitress for 15 years), never had a resume, I have never had a formal job interview, I am almost paralyzed with fear about the prospect of starting all over. I have absolutely no benefits, and it is kind of late in the game to start thinking about that now! I'm 53.
What started this "kicking myself in the pants" pity party is a friend who offered me a position at a utility company 20+ years ago. I didn't want to "work in a cubicle surrounded by a bunch of gossips stabbing each other in the back".
She is retiring at the end of the year, with a very generous benefits package, at 55.

Does he limit your weekly hours, so that you're "part time" under his policy and not entitled to benefits? It's never too late to be paid fairly (he could always change the policy to include you) or to find another job.

I'll bet he has great benefits for himself. He doesn't deserve your loyalty. I'm sorry for you.

First day back, it only takes 10 minutes to forget you had a vacation.

Unfortunately as more and more companies lay off layers of management and workers there is no expectation that less will get done. We're about to face another major layoff in my company and no one is volunteering to give up any work. We are expected to do the same with less.

I work in the high tech industry and my viewpoint is like tally's, except that we're expected to do more with less while the VIPs in the company prosper and vacation more than ever!

and probably get and keep their exhorbitant bonuses.

Them wot has ... gets ...

... them wot don't ... don't.

It's the market economy ... when most of the little fish ... have already been eaten .... and them wot ain't ... better swim dang fast!

ole joyful