4 ms·

> Do some workers and employers prefer a lower salary for more vacation days? sure. Just agree on that as part of a contract. I've tried. It's never happened.

> Do some workers and employers prefer a lower salary for more vacation days? sure. Just agree on that as part of a contract. I've tried. It's never happened. I feel very cynical when I see all the oh-so-earnest discussions about "negotiating" after getting a job offer, because they all seem to assume that money is the only thing that matters, and that one can get more of it just by asking for it. Negotiating over a job offer has never gotten me jack squat, because American companies appear to be universally stuck on the idea that vacation time ought to be a function of seniority.

gozur88 11y ago
For big companies it's probably no so much they don't want to do it as they haven't set up their system such that they can do it. Large corporations want to see you as an interchangeable part, and anything that makes you less like an interchangeable part is a headache they feel they can do without. I work at a very large company. They have divisions with different salary bands and benefits. When you move from one division to another it's like moving to a brand new company. I guarantee you if you negotiated extra vacation at my company they would eventually transfer your business unit to another division and you'd stop accruing the extra. HR would shrug and quote you the corporate policy. You're probably much better off working for a smaller place where the CEO was involved in the salary negotiations.
- marssaxman 11y ago
  That's been my experience with big companies entirely, which is another reason I raise an eyebrow and silently call "bullshit" when I hear people earnestly going on about the importance of negotiation. How the hell are you going to negotiate when there is no chance you will meet anyone with the power to give you what you want?

4 ms·

> Do some workers and employers prefer a lower salary for more vacation days? sure. Just agree on that as part of a contract. I've tried. It's never happened.

by marssaxman 11y ago

gozur88 11y ago
For big companies it's probably no so much they don't want to do it as they haven't set up their system such that they can do it. Large corporations want to see you as an interchangeable part, and anything that makes you less like an interchangeable part is a headache they feel they can do without. I work at a very large company. They have divisions with different salary bands and benefits. When you move from one division to another it's like moving to a brand new company. I guarantee you if you negotiated extra vacation at my company they would eventually transfer your business unit to another division and you'd stop accruing the extra. HR would shrug and quote you the corporate policy. You're probably much better off working for a smaller place where the CEO was involved in the salary negotiations.
- marssaxman 11y ago
  That's been my experience with big companies entirely, which is another reason I raise an eyebrow and silently call "bullshit" when I hear people earnestly going on about the importance of negotiation. How the hell are you going to negotiate when there is no chance you will meet anyone with the power to give you what you want?