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Comment by pc86 | Hacker News Reader

They allude to this in the article, but part of the reason why this is regularly scheduled and mandatory is that there's no front-loading of work. You simply stop coming in and the work is spread to other folks on that team/project, because they knew you were going to be out anyway.

And of course they'll still have to schedule other time off. I don't think anything in the article says this is the only time they're out of the office.

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At my present place I have not had vacation of more than 1 day (so far this year, 2 of those) in 18 months. One app release after another, and for our portion we have 2 programmers covering three apps, there is no backup. Budget does not allow for more, so basically impossible. Of course the real problem is that we should not be releasing apps on such an insane schedule, we don't need it.

It's ironic that you guys create the mess you put yourself in. Let the business fail. Book your vacation. Stop risking your health. I guess it's easy to say for me, but I don't get it.. you won't make 93% of the profits of the business, you will only make $140,000.

Because he needs a job maybe

6 weeks is plenty vacation time in the year. I'd go bonkers having to take more.

Could you explain why - would it make your working life harder, or do you struggle to find things to do outside work?

I took the job I have to make a dent in the universe. I like time off but that much time might be too much for me.

I know, I'm not talking about vacation, I'm talking about things like doctor's visits, weddings, etc. The things that don't fall into the buckets of "work" or "vacation" but which require you not to be in the office.

That's a pipe dream, but employees will just do whatever they have to do to make it work despite the company adding more obstacles. Oh, Jim's not going to be here next week, so let's schedule that client meeting for the week he gets back, plus the other meetings that come up while he's out. Same old story, just now not even manageable by the employee.

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