It’s time for a holiday!
If you are feeling that vacation feeling, then it’s time to book some days off work and get some relaxing done. So you head to your office leave application platform and come across annual leave vs. vacation. And are completely stumped about which days you need to apply for!
If you are in this situation or will be shortly, then this is the article for you and you need to keep reading! We are going to chat about the difference between annual leave and vacation time, and what the difference is between the two – if any!
PTO
No, it does not mean please turn over! Well, it does, but not for this article! Paid Time Off – or PTO – is what companies give to their employees when they need to take some days away from the office.
In the most simple terms, your company will pay you not to be there. Sounds like a good deal right? Now we need to dig into the main differences between paid leave, vacation leave, or even a combination of the two.
Ask All the Questions
The only way to find this out is to ask. While many companies use annual and vacation leave interchangeably, there are a few that offer both options.
Paid Vacation
The main (and often sole) purpose of vacation leave is to take a holiday. Whether this is with or without your family, many companies do not allow you to take your vacation days for anything else.
A vacation offers you a chance to relax and recover from work, and should really only be used as such. Stressed and strung-out employees are never going to operate at the top of their game, right?
Whether you’re choosing an AirBNB or your regular timeshare, this is your downtime. In fact, while you are booking your vacation time, why not list your timeshare for free and offer the perfect place for someone else to escape the grindstone when you’re not using it?
Annual Leave
Annual leave can be taken for several reasons. The best way to find out is to ask what the company allows you to use annual days for, but some examples are:
- Personal obligations
- As a result of adverse weather conditions
- Illness – annual leave can be taken instead of sick leave if needed
- An emergency or illness affecting immediate family members
You can also apply for annual leave for cultural or religious events.
Accrual Rate
The rate at which you accrue leave is dependent on company policies. Although there are a number of ways to determine this, it is generally based on your length of service with the company.
As an employee, your accrual rate will vary between 14 to 25 days of leave time depending on your tenure, position, or seniority.
Annual Leave Vs. Vacation Leave
The difference between annual leave vs. vacation is so slight that many companies do not bother to differentiate. So the only way you will know if your company does is to ask your Human Resources department, or even better ask upfront when you sign your initial contract.
If you found this article helpful, you can have a browse around our blog. We have a variety of different topics that you might enjoy.
