How do I negotiate extra vacation time?

Vacation time is an important benefit for many employers. Finding a way to successfully negotiate for extra vacation time may very well be the point that entices you to keep (or leave) a particular job.

Tutorial

Negotiations for benefits for extra vacation time can be equally important for both the employer and employee, though the two are seldom looking at the results the same. Consider what vacation time costs an employer – both in cash paid out and in the fact that he must find someone else to do the duties of the vacationing employee during that time. With that in mind, it’s a little easier to understand why employers are reluctant to offer more vacation time.

Remember that negotiations are a simple meeting of two or more people in which each is seeking to gain something. That means that the person who is looking for more vacation time is probably going to have to offer up some incentive for the employer to grant the extra vacation time. What you as the employee are willing to offer depends largely on how important the extra vacation time is. Only you can decide what that vacation time is worth to you. But remember that your boss is also going to decide what the vacation time is going to cost.

Perhaps you are willing to take vacation time instead of an annual raise. Depending on your financial situation, you may find that having an extra week of paid vacation is better for you than to have the few extra dollars each week that you’d net from a raise. Maybe you’re even willing to take the vacation time without pay. It could be that you can sell your employer on the idea that you’ll be increasingly productive during the rest of the year and that you’re likely to produce enough extra to pay for the vacation time.

As with any negotiations, you have to be willing to compromise, sell your idea and even to admit that you aren’t going to get your way on this particular point.