[Shadix]

Traveling is my passion and for over a year now I have been postponing travel plans because circumstances did not allow for it. Usually because of work. The places I really want to visit are only nice to visit in the warmer months, so last summer I was dead set on traveling. But because of work, I was not able do go anywhere. It really bummed me out that my whole summer was wasted. And then even in the fall I was prevented from doing it, again because of work. So I promised myself that this spring and summer, I would finally take the trips I've been wanting to take. I had a shitload of PTO saved up and I would make sure to tell them in a long time in advance so as to secure my time off before a conflict arises. But I just got laid off this week, which basically threw a wrench in my plans. Now if I get another job, I will have to work probably for a good 3 months before I will be allowed to take a vacation, if not more than that. If I had been let go a a couple months later when we were in the midst of spring and summer, I would have the option of going ahead and getting my traveling done and then returning to find a job and get back to work. But I don't know if I can afford to sit without a job for 3-4 months until the warm months arrive and I get to travel. So essentially this happened at the exact worst moment, as though specifically to ruin my plans again. Am I really supposed to spend another summer not going anywhere? This is just not fair. I cannot sacrifice another year of my life. I feel like a prisoner.

[hvert]

Travel now? Traveling during the cold months isn't necessarily bad, depending on where you are going. I hope the PTO will get paid out, that really sucks.

[divine1966]

Sorry about loss of your job. They have to pay your PTO, make sure you get that paid to you. Honestly if I lost my job now, the last thing on my mind would be to travel. I’d be too busy looking for a job. Or when you get your PTO money paid, you could go on vacation (yes in the winter) and then look for a job. Where is it not nice in the winter months? Siberia? What are those mysterious locations that are only nice in the summer?

[TishaBuv]

Sending good wishes that your streak of bad luck turns around for you.

Originally Posted by Shadix

Traveling is my passion and for over a year now I have been postponing travel plans because circumstances did not allow for it. Usually because of work. The places I really want to visit are only nice to visit in the warmer months, so last summer I was dead set on traveling. But because of work, I was not able do go anywhere. It really bummed me out that my whole summer was wasted. And then even in the fall I was prevented from doing it, again because of work. So I promised myself that this spring and summer, I would finally take the trips I've been wanting to take. I had a shitload of PTO saved up and I would make sure to tell them in a long time in advance so as to secure my time off before a conflict arises. But I just got laid off this week, which basically threw a wrench in my plans. Now if I get another job, I will have to work probably for a good 3 months before I will be allowed to take a vacation, if not more than that. If I had been let go a a couple months later when we were in the midst of spring and summer, I would have the option of going ahead and getting my traveling done and then returning to find a job and get back to work. But I don't know if I can afford to sit without a job for 3-4 months until the warm months arrive and I get to travel. So essentially this happened at the exact worst moment, as though specifically to ruin my plans again. Am I really supposed to spend another summer not going anywhere? This is just not fair. I cannot sacrifice another year of my life. I feel like a prisoner.

I am sorry to hear that you were laid off. Honestly though, working for 4 months before having to travel is not a big deal. I know you really like to travel, but the reality is that most people need to work and save up to be able to do so. Some people have to work for several years before they can save up enough to travel. In the grand scheme of things, 4 months is not long at all. You will get through this, and then you'll be able to travel. Hang in there!

[Shadix]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Sorry about loss of your job. They have to pay your PTO, make sure you get that paid to you. Honestly if I lost my job now, the last thing on my mind would be to travel. I’d be too busy looking for a job. Or when you get your PTO money paid, you could go on vacation (yes in the winter) and then look for a job. Where is it not nice in the winter months? Siberia? What are those mysterious locations that are only nice in the summer?

They are paying me my PTO but only 80 hours of it. I had about 170 hours saved up and the reason I didn't use it was because they needed me to be in the office during the times I had planned to go on vacation. I really should be paid all 170 hours since they were the ones who stopped me from using it. But not only are they only paying me 80, of that 80 they are only paying me 60%.

I am looking to travel at times when everyone is out and about and lots of other people are traveling, when things are lively. In the winter nobody wants to be outside and not many people are traveling. You really think Barcelona in the winter can be compared to Barcelona in the spring or summer?

[Shadix]

Originally Posted by scaredandconfused

I am sorry to hear that you were laid off. Honestly though, working for 4 months before having to travel is not a big deal. I know you really like to travel, but the reality is that most people need to work and save up to be able to do so. Some people have to work for several years before they can save up enough to travel. In the grand scheme of things, 4 months is not long at all. You will get through this, and then you'll be able to travel. Hang in there!

I don't know if it's just 4 months. Actually I think that in many places you would need to work longer than that to accumulate two weeks of PTO (going overseas and staying less than 2 weeks is just silly, I already made that mistake last time). My concern is that given the timing in which I would be starting a new job, it would not be possible for me to travel until the warm weather months are over. I have already been postponing my travel plans for almost a year now. I already feel like I should have been doing this during my younger years, since that's when most people do it.

[hvert]

I had something similar happen to me a while ago - was planning on quitting my job in the spring to travel for a few months but was pushed out in January instead. I bought a plane ticket the next week and took off for a few months. Barcelona in January was still fun and tropical compared to where I live, lol. Carnival just started and loads of people go, it gets pretty wild in some cities!

[seesaw]

I have often hired people and they tell me upon hiring that they have a planned trip from X-X date and would it be okay to take that as unpaid leave. I always say "yes." I don't expect people to not plan their lives just because they are unemployed. I think a lot of employers are okay with this. I would plan your trip, and if you get a new job, just tell them that you need some unpaid leave for the time of your trip. I have seen this happen at almost every place I've worked. It's typically not a big deal.

[Shadix]

Originally Posted by seesaw

I have often hired people and they tell me upon hiring that they have a planned trip from X-X date and would it be okay to take that as unpaid leave. I always say "yes." I don't expect people to not plan their lives just because they are unemployed. I think a lot of employers are okay with this. I would plan your trip, and if you get a new job, just tell them that you need some unpaid leave for the time of your trip. I have seen this happen at almost every place I've worked. It's typically not a big deal.

I really hope this is the case.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by Shadix

They are paying me my PTO but only 80 hours of it. I had about 170 hours saved up and the reason I didn't use it was because they needed me to be in the office during the times I had planned to go on vacation. I really should be paid all 170 hours since they were the ones who stopped me from using it. But not only are they only paying me 80, of that 80 they are only paying me 60%.

I am looking to travel at times when everyone is out and about and lots of other people are traveling, when things are lively. In the winter nobody wants to be outside and not many people are traveling. You really think Barcelona in the winter can be compared to Barcelona in the spring or summer?

Barcelona is quite warm in the winter. It’s in the 50s right now. Most certainly it’s nice to be outside. I am surprised you are saying people aren’t traveling in the winter. Of course they do. In fact Christmas holiday and winter break in February are very busy times to travel. My nephew is flying to Europe next week with group of friends. He is in his 20s. That’s when it’s convenient for him to travel. I’d not obsess over travel in the spring.

[tecomsin]

Originally Posted by Shadix

I don't know if it's just 4 months. Actually I think that in many places you would need to work longer than that to accumulate two weeks of PTO (going overseas and staying less than 2 weeks is just silly, I already made that mistake last time). My concern is that given the timing in which I would be starting a new job, it would not be possible for me to travel until the warm weather months are over. I have already been postponing my travel plans for almost a year now. I already feel like I should have been doing this during my younger years, since that's when most people do it.

can you sign up with a temporary agency, job hunters like kforce and take a short term contract?