Do you belong to a union?
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
Do you take a lunch break?
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
How long does it take you to get to work?
Do you belong to a union?
Nope. Those things are few and far between, here in the south.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
I believe I accrue a day per month, but I never use them. I teach twice a week, and this coming semester, I only have to physically be there once a week. So, next year, I will be physically at my university only about 40 days (adding in staff meetings and other odd duck days). What the heck! -- double it for paper grading, and let's call it 80 working day a year. Only tenured profs get summer work, so I get all summer off anyway. Unless I have some catastrophic illness, I don't foresee using any of my vacation time -- it will be added to my years in service for retirement purposes.
Do you take a lunch break?
I eat during the times I don't teach. But I don't have a formal break, or formal times.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
I have to at the moment -- can't chew until Valentine's Day! I do for lunch anyway, usually, because I don't have a long enough break to get away. But since my Univ graciously works me only two days a week, it's a packed two days, and I eat "out" for breakfast and supper.
How long does it take you to get to work?
Ninety minutes for 100 miles of driving. Hope to move closer very soon!
Do you belong to a union?
No, but DH does. I used to be in the UFCW back when I worked in a supermarket. That was years ago and was only for a short time.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
I get 9.35 vacation hours a month and 6.25 personal hours a month. No sick days: those come out of vacation or personal. The firm gives us 9 holiday days a year on top of that (Xmas, New Years, Thanksgiving, etc.)
Do you take a lunch break?
We are supposed to take an hour. Sometimes (like today) I get in late, so I'll take a half-hour to make up the time, or sometimes I work through lunch. Usually I eat in my office, but sometimes I meet friends or sit in the lunch room.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
I've been trying to lately in order to save money. Besides, if and when I go back on Atkins, it's easier to just prepare and eat my own food rather than trying to guess what the restaurants may or may not have put in the food.
That said, they did treat us to lunch here today (barbecue!) because not many of the food places are open today.
How long does it take you to get to work?
It depends. Anywhere from an hour to 1 1/2 hours. Usually I take the bus. It's a 15-20 minute drive to the bus stop (20-25 min. when school is in session), then it's a 45 min. to 1-hour ride on the bus, depending on traffic. Today, for example, the bus broke down and I was 30 min. late to work. That sucked.
On the days when I drive in, it usually takes an hour or more due to traffic and trying to park. It's really only 30-40 minutes away when there is no traffic.
Do you belong to a union?
No
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
Ten days vacation plus two "person days" plus (for the first ever) 2.5 days at Christmas (in 2009) and a couple of days in August (again new in 2009 - summer hours)
Do you take a lunch break?
Most times yes. I eat my lunch and then sit in the "lounge" area and read my book.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Yes. Almost always.
How long does it take you to get to work?
It totally depends on the weather but on average about 30 minutes
Do you belong to a union?
Nope.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
At the office job it is figured on hours worked during the month, but I have about 30 hours in vacation and 25 hours in personal leave accrued because I took no time off in summer. That would mean I get about 4 hours of each every month. Plus we get a ridiculous amount of holidays - every day state govt. is close, so is the non-profit.
At the store job - absolutely none. And there are only two holidays, unpaid, a year (xmas and thanksgiving). The xmas bonus is equal to about an 8 hour shift.
Do you take a lunch break?
At the office job no, I usually only work 8 -12, so I got home after work. At the store, since only 1 person is on at time, you just eat as you can between customers.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
At the store, yes.
How long does it take you to get to work?
Lets see, the store job (weekends) is about 8 blocks away so many 5 minutes if there is a lot of traffic. The office job, about 7 minutes since it is downtown.
NO to all 5 questions.. I am just a housewife. And there are no union benifits to that job, plus the pay sucks, lol.
Do you belong to a union?
-- Yes, it's the clerical/technical unit of the Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation (
OSSTF) which is pretty strong. I have mixed feelings about unions, as I see the benefits as well as the pitfalls of belonging to one. FOR SURE, no two ways about it, my salary and benefits would not be anywhere near what they are if not for the union.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
-- I get 15 paid vacation days at the moment, plus ten legal stat holidays. I also get 24 sick days per year (cumulative, year after year) as well as reduced hours in the summer months and xmas and spring break (six hour work days). I can also take unpaid leaves of absence (just got back from a four-month one) and they hold my job and seniority for me. AND I'm another two years away from four weeks paid vacation.
Do you take a lunch break?
-- Often, I do. Many of us in the shop don't take a lunch and leave an hour early. It's kind of frowned upon but we do it anyhow.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
-- About half the time. I tend not to eat "lunch" as I'm a morning grazer -- I eat breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, brunch and then maybe lunch. But I brown bag those meals. LOL
How long does it take you to get to work?
-- Depends where I'm going and what I'm doing that day. My shop is about a 15-20 minute drive for me. Currently, I'm working at a building about five minutes from home. Sometimes I service schools that are up to 45 minutes away.
Jo -- I'm LOL at your extended breakfast! I'm a huge breakfast fan, and if I get a good enough breakfast, sometimes I won't eat for the rest of the day.
Do you belong to a union?
No, faculty don't have one. The staff does, but it's pretty much useless as the board prohibits any bargaining with unions.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
Faculty don't get vacation days. We are all on 9-month contracts. I teach two of the four summer terms, so I teach late August through late July. Time off during that time that could be considered "vacation" would be the two weeks the college at the December/January holidays and two weeks between the eight-week summer term and our first in-service. But I take so much work home that I don't usually get that much time off.
Do you take a lunch break?
I always schedule a lunch break in my teaching schedule. I get ill if I don't eat regularly.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Most of the time, no. I do have a microwave and a fridge in my office and keep some food there, but I usually grab fast food or go out to lunch the days I am on campus.
How long does it take you to get to work?
It takes 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Do you belong to a union?
Yes. It's a union for professionals in the government. I really don't like unions, but as Jo alluded to... the government wouldn't treat us nearly as well if we weren't part of one. When sciency-type people became scarce a few years back I know that our benefits were suddenly much improved
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
20 official vacation days, plus a Volunteer day and a Personal day that you can take anytime that year without question (no need for proof of volunteer work, or need for personal time). We can carry over up to 35 vacation days per year, but the other two disappear if we don't use them. We also have 10 or 11 statutory holidays, and I think 24 sick days (cumulative forever) although whatever the number it is ridiculously high. I also get unpaid leaves (again, your job and seniority is kept, in fact I know of several people who have been promoted during their leave) and other really nice benefits.
ETA: Forgot to add that we also get up to 3 days for 'family' which I have used when going to a doctor's appointment with my mother, and I have been told I can use if I need to take my cats to the vet. We can't abuse the system, but they feel that 'family' is who matters to you.
Do you take a lunch break?
Almost always, unless there is a huge deadline looming. I tend to work more hours than necessary and I need the mental break. My new job in February will have me back at my old building, where I plan on playing cards (bridge) for an hour every lunch-time, after which we get something quick to eat.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Currently, I have no options. I am stuck in a place that only has cafeterias and shops that sell chips or crackers. Previously and next month in my new job, I will occasionally bring left-overs but mostly the cafeteria has healthy and cheap meals (stir-frys and pastas made individually and right in front of you) so I have those. I have home-made breakfasts and suppers at home so I don't mind eating out at lunch.
How long does it take you to get to work?
Currently, about 5 or 10 minutes depending upon if I am biking or walking, and if the roads are so muddy that I can barely bike on them. Previously, at least an hour (45 minutes by bus and 15 minutes to walk from the front gate to my building) and also an hour by bike until the weather gets icy. When I return, about 10 minutes to walk. They specifically asked me about going to a closer place when I return home as they prefer it and so do I!
Do you belong to a union?
No.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
21 days. We also get additional days off for illness (30 days with a medical certificate from a doctor); childcare; compassionate (illness or death of relative); examination and so on.
Do you take a lunch break?
1 hour lunch break.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Sometimes.
How long does it take you to get to work?
10 minutes by taxi; 35 minutes by public bus.
Do you belong to a union?
Yes, most al teachers do. I'm pretty happy with it.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
We get 10 a year and they carry over. I think I have about 60 days right now.
Do you take a lunch break?
We get 30 minutes for lunch, which turns into about 15 once you get your food and stuff. I usually take lunch, but will meet with students if there is a big test looming, or am annoyed with my co-workers.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
I buy microwaveable meals since I'm on such a time restraint. Since I work in a public school I often will take the "free" lunch the kids are tossing out. Some of the hot meals are quite good and there are always carrots and celery, sometimes oranges and apples. There are a few local companies that will bring us a hot lunch for about $5, but I usually forget to call in my order by 8AM.
How long does it take you to get to work?
About 3 songs on the radio
Do you belong to a union?
yes
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
we get ours as PTO. 20 total, 10 for vacation/sick , and 10 for holidays
Do you take a lunch break?
yes, i get 45 mins....rofl, i know, an odd number. basically we wanted an hour lunch, we always had an hour lunch before going union, then when we went union(which was our CEOs idea) they decided they didnt want us to have an hour, and wanted us to go to 30 mins. We were not about to do that, so we had to compromise and came up with 45 mins.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
yes, almost every day. maybe once or twice a month at most do i actually go out and get something.
How long does it take you to get to work?
bout 15 - 20 mins.
Wow. I am totally jealous of all of you with the short commutes.
CF Scorpio Wrote:Wow. I am totally jealous of all of you with the short commutes.
I think a lot of people choose to work close to where they live or live close to where they work. I know I do. I could work in Toronto if I wanted to, and probably make a lot more money, but who the hell wants to commute one to one-and-a-half hours in each direction???
Do you belong to a union?
No
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
Something like 10 PTO days (accrued bi-weekly) and 8 company holidays
Do you take a lunch break?
Oh hell yes
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Almost always, I'm not paid enough to spend $7-$15 per day for lunch. I eat in our breakroom.
How long does it take you to get to work?
On a great day (like most of last week) it's 30 minutes in the morning and 40 in the afternoon.
On a good day it's 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the evening
On a downright shitty day? 2 - 2 1/2 hours
My longest commute has been 4 hours to get home. No, unfortunately I'm not exaggerating. I left work at 5 and got home just after 9pm. 21 miles. Granted, it was a fluke because it flooded and all the roads home flooded and I got stuck in a parking lot somewhere waiting for the water to go down, but 4 fucking hours. Not including the 45 minutes that morning.
Houston sucks for commuting. Living inside the loop (where most of the jobs and downtown are) is crazy expensive... CRAZY expensive, so most of us live in the suburbs so we can have a garage and/or a yard and/or a neighbor who isn't sharing a wall.
There aren't that many jobs in the burbs around here unless you work for a hospital, and even then the jobs in the medical center pay anywhere from 10-25% MORE ....
Big cities suck- I'm sick of them!
~
Do you belong to a union? No.
How many vacation days do you get in a year? When I get to full time, I'll accrue 40 hours vacation and 40 hours sick leave each year. As a part timer, I accrue 20 hours each/year.
Do you take a lunch break? Yup, you get thrown out to take your breaks, we get 30 minutes for lunch. Usually use the first half for restroom, heating food and eating, then the last half for socializing with the cool kids in the smoking area outside.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch? I often take leftovers or a frozen dinner. The good options in the "wheel of death" (vending machine) tend to go early in the week.
How long does it take you to get to work? About 40 minutes from door to door.
Jo Wrote:CF Scorpio Wrote:Wow. I am totally jealous of all of you with the short commutes.
I think a lot of people choose to work close to where they live or live close to where they work. I know I do. I could work in Toronto if I wanted to, and probably make a lot more money, but who the hell wants to commute one to one-and-a-half hours in each direction???
ITA! I could make 1.5 times what I make now if I did this same job in T.O. but I'd either have to commute the 1.5 hours each way or move to T.O. - neither of which I have a desire to do.
Do you belong to a union?
Yes. Public Service of Canada-Union of Solicitor General Employees (PSAC-USGE).
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
20. Plus 10 sick days, 2 personal days, and 5 Family Related Leave days.
Do you take a lunch break?
Yes. Entitled to 30 minutes but we rarely take the 2 15's we're allowed so most of us take an hour.
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Sometimes. It's 50/50 how often I brown bag and go out for lunch.
How long does it take you to get to work?
Since I moved closer, about 8 minutes (5.7 km and 3 intersections.)
Do you belong to a union?
I am represented but not a dues payer - in US Fed if there is a union you are covered if you are in the bargaining unit but are not compelled to pay dues. I am pro union in general but not for the union representing me, they tend to be self serving and neglect the 'technical' people like computer specialists.
How many vacation days do you get in a year?
8 hours per pay period plus 4 hours sick leave. I can carry over 240 hours vacation and unlimited sick time .
Do you take a lunch break?
Yes
Do you "brown bag" it for lunch?
Sometimes
How long does it take you to get to work?
5 to 10 minutes driving, 45 walking, 15 to 20 on bike.