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I started a new job in December and was given 10 vacation days and 7 personal days. None of these days roll over (use them or lose them). Obviously, I will be leaving before school starts this fall. Don't plan on using personal days, but was wondering what everyone thought about how many vacation days would be appropriate to use? I want to be able to leave on good terms and get future recommendations, etc., however the job is soul crushing and I want to be here as little as possible. Thoughts?

P.S. - They have no idea I intend to leave, of course.

all 10 baby!!!!

There's a good chance they'll be bitter about you quitting to go to law school no matter what you do. You obviously understand your situation better than I do, but if that's the case then you're probably already s.o.l. with future recommendations. So why not take what you can get before you burn the bridges?

they're your days - use them! maybe not all 10 in the month you plan to leave, but those days are part of your pay so i say use them as you want...
and they're gonna feel however they feel about you leaving regardless would be my bet, so don't waste your benefits hoping they'll love you more for it.

As the previous poster said, they are part of your pay. Would you take a pay cut to make them feel better about you leaving? Not using your vacation days is the same thing.

Just make sure you use them before you give your 2 week notice. Most places don't allow you to use vacation after you give them notice.

The job has a good bit of responsibility, but I'm not getting paid a great deal for my trouble. I assume they know I'm not going to be here forever, especially ITE. I wasn't planning on telling them I was leaving for law school, I was just going to say I found a great opportunity, if that makes a difference.

Just don't want it to look premeditated that I was going to leave (even though it certainly is).

Upton Sinclair wrote:The job has a good bit of responsibility, but I'm not getting paid a great deal for my trouble. I assume they know I'm not going to be here forever, especially ITE. I wasn't planning on telling them I was leaving for law school, I was just going to say I found a great opportunity, if that makes a difference.

Just don't want it to look premeditated that I was going to leave (even though it certainly is).

Haha this sounds exactly like where I work. I could probably case less about burning this bridge. Even my old lead said this job is basically a stepping stone to a better job.

Yeah, honestly this place isn't a connection I'm going to need, I just want to make sure I'll be OK if future legal employers come calling.

I discussed it with my employer ahead of time and got them to award me my vacation starting the day after my last workday and continue until it ran out. I basically got an extra paycheck out of it.

vanwinkle wrote:I discussed it with my employer ahead of time and got them to award me my vacation starting the day after my last workday and continue until it ran out. I basically got an extra paycheck out of it.

That is quite badass, my friend.

I'd check on the payout rules. A lot of companies will pay you for unused vacation. Personally, I told my manager back in October that I am planning on going to law school this fall... And I just started in May. So I had been here 5 months when I told him. In all honesty, the more notice you give them, probably the better.

But definitely use those personal days (if they are paid). I don't know why you wouldn't! And if they don't pay out for unused vacation definitely use those too!

Upton Sinclair wrote:The job has a good bit of responsibility, but I'm not getting paid a great deal for my trouble. I assume they know I'm not going to be here forever, especially ITE. I wasn't planning on telling them I was leaving for law school, I was just going to say I found a great opportunity, if that makes a difference.

Just don't want it to look premeditated that I was going to leave (even though it certainly is).

Don't you think they're going to be curious though and ask what the "great opportunity" is? I'm in a similar position (just got a job today, and they never asked about future plans or anything) and trying to figure out how I'm going to weasel out of this by the first week of August.

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