JimmieJoe / KC6YRU

I’m on vacation again.  No plans, but who knows what will pop up?

Yes, again.

Here’s how it works:

I’ve been on the job for over 17 years, now.  I’m at the highest vacation accrual rate.  That’s good for about 4 weeks or more a year.  We’re also able to take 8 hours a year as a personal holiday.  Where the extra time really kicks in, however, is holidays.  Most people in government employ get 13 holidays a year, spread out during the 12 months.  It’s usually a Monday, although Thanksgiving and Christmas are in there, too, and generate a couple of days for each in those 13.  The “regular” daytime administrative staff gets the day off, with pay.  Since my job is 24/7/365, we work the holidays.  Since it’s inequitable to give some people the day off with pay, but not others, we get 8 hours of vacation time added to our time banks.  With the personal holiday, that’s another 2 weeks!

Some people are amazed at the time I have available for vacation, but they seldom think of the days they take off through the year for various 3 day weekends.  If a holiday falls on my regular work day, I’m working.  You might be at home watching football, but I’m at work!

I simply take all those days off at different times than you.

I go back to work on the 18th.

Yeah, I love my job!