Vacation/PTO

[mustang sally]

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Just wondering what kinds of vacation or PTO packages everyone gets. I know America is notoriously stingy with vacation but I'm not really sure what is average for a pharmacist.

We receive no vacation the first year, ten days a year after that until five years when you get 15 days, and I think at some point you max out at 4 weeks vacation. We also have holiday time and a couple PTO days that are separate from our vacation time.

 

[sakigt]

No vaca 1st 90 days. 6.8? hours per pay period, if you work part time you get a percentage of hours worked, 3-4 hours. At 5 and 15 years it goes up. Must cover vaca, sick time and holidays.

Paid vaca everywhere is a joke imo.

 

[mfdoom]

Year 1 - 3 = 4 hours per pay period
Year 4 - 15 = 6 hours per pay period
Year 16+ = 8 hours per pay period

Sick leave is separate and stays accruing at 4 hours per pay period. Federal holidays off.

 

[MatCauthon]

to start 15 vacation days, 10 sick days, 8 holidays. it goes up by a couple vacation days every 5 years.

 

[PolarPop]

0-6 months - none
after 6 months you get 4 weeks a year and can't carry any over

 

[Old Timer]

Don't know how it works but at this point I have 4 weeks of vacation based on 44 hr base so I have 168 hours of vacation. I would go up to 5 weeks after 25 years but I have no intention of taking advantage of that. I have 8 paid holidays. As for sick time, I have never hit the limit.

 

[Dr Wario]

Don't know how it works but at this point I have 4 weeks of vacation based on 44 hr base so I have 168 hours of vacation. I would go up to 5 weeks after 25 years but I have no intention of taking advantage of that. I have 8 paid holidays. As for sick time, I have never hit the limit.

Is CVS offering the 5 weeks in your market? I have seen a pharmacist who got it but it was a union market and was told 4 is the max in most places.

 

[Old Timer]

Is CVS offering the 5 weeks in your market? I have seen a pharmacist who got it but it was a union market and was told 4 is the max in most places.

After 25 years......

 

[radio frequency]

28 days annually to start (includes holidays and sick leave, so it’s less than it sounds) that you must accrue before using. Increases in a few years to 33, then minimal increases after many many more years.

 

[Momus]

The best I have seen is government funded jobs
13d federal holiday
12d sick time, accumulate forever and payable when you retire
15d to start, up to 24d vacation
fat pension: 50% monthly income at 20 yrs service, 75% 30 yrs, 100% 40 yrs

I had a friend that switched from retail to this. She is practically getting paid an extra 100k every year on top of her 140k/yr salary if you know how much that pension worth... 70k income (50% pension) in just 20 yrs of service until you die; you'll need about $2M of investment to do that. $2M/20 yrs = $100k/yr.

 

[Saisri_PharmStdnt]

Is CVS offering the 5 weeks in your market? I have seen a pharmacist who got it but it was a union market and was told 4 is the max in most places.

After 25 years......

CVS on the PBM side has:
0-4 years of service - up to 120 PTO hours (15 days)
5-9 years of service - up to 144 PTO hours (18 days)
10-14 years of service - up to 168 PTO hours (21 days)
15-19 years of service - up to 184 PTO hours (23 days)
20+ years of service - up to 232 PTO hours (29 days)

In addition, you get up to 4 additional Floating Holidays (5 if New Year's falls on Sat or Sun)

Updated to add - we no longer have to accrue first.

 

[rxdawg21]

The best I have seen is government funded jobs
13d federal holiday
12d sick time, accumulate forever and payable when you retire
15d to start, up to 24d vacation
fat pension: 50% monthly income at 20 yrs service, 75% 30 yrs, 100% 40 yrs

I had a friend that switched from retail to this. She is practically getting paid an extra 100k every year on top of her 140k/yr salary if you know how much that pension worth... 70k income (50% pension) in just 20 yrs of service until you die; you'll need about $2M of investment to do that. $2M/20 yrs = $100k/yr.

What agency is she in? I work for the VA and can state those stats are inaccurate.

Leave: 0-3 years =4 hours PPP (per pay period)
3-15 years= 6 hours PPP
15+ years= 8 hours PPP

-you have to earn this PPP and you are given 0 hours to start
Sick leave: 4 hours PPP for entire time-unlimited rollover
Holidays: 10 paid federal holidays (at least at my VA's, some VA's do not close on holidays)

Pension: 1% per year you work (Minimum retirement age (full retirement) is 57 years old, I will have 30 years at that time if I'm here until then and
would get 30% of my high 3 salary (which they are talking about changing))

1.1% per year if you work until 62 years old (and minimum of 20 years I believe, I don't plan on working until 62 years old so unsure of
time requirement)


If you were hired 2014 or later you pay 4.4% AFTER TAX money for the pension. The government pays about 9ish%. I could do a lot better on my own with conservative returns with 13% invested and 4.4% of that being invested in a ROTH like account (after tax)

 

[Ethan Lee]

Any insite on Walmart..?

Considering a RXM position there..I heard you have to use pto for holidays?

 

[Momus]

that sounds great and all...but i don't think i'll ever work for any agency/company/health system for 20 years, let alone 30 or 40 years

I am sure career rphs who aren't short sighted are lining up for 240k/yr working 40h/w if you don't. Retire at 55 and make $105k (75% pension) with COLA.

What agency is she in? I work for the VA and can state those stats are inaccurate.

Leave: 0-3 years =4 hours PPP (per pay period)
3-15 years= 6 hours PPP
15+ years= 8 hours PPP

-you have to earn this PPP and you are given 0 hours to start
Sick leave: 4 hours PPP for entire time-unlimited rollover
Holidays: 10 paid federal holidays (at least at my VA's, some VA's do not close on holidays)

Pension: 1% per year you work (Minimum retirement age (full retirement) is 57 years old, I will have 30 years at that time if I'm here until then and
would get 30% of my high 3 salary (which they are talking about changing))

1.1% per year if you work until 62 years old (and minimum of 20 years I believe, I don't plan on working until 62 years old so unsure of
time requirement)


If you were hired 2014 or later you pay 4.4% AFTER TAX money for the pension. The government pays about 9ish%. I could do a lot better on my own with conservative returns with 13% invested and 4.4% of that being invested in a ROTH like account (after tax)

It's UC system. The university in California. She paid 8% into the pension.

 

[PromethazineDM]

The best I have seen is government funded jobs
13d federal holiday
12d sick time, accumulate forever and payable when you retire
15d to start, up to 24d vacation
fat pension: 50% monthly income at 20 yrs service, 75% 30 yrs, 100% 40 yrs

I had a friend that switched from retail to this. She is practically getting paid an extra 100k every year on top of her 140k/yr salary if you know how much that pension worth... 70k income (50% pension) in just 20 yrs of service until you die; you'll need about $2M of investment to do that. $2M/20 yrs = $100k/yr.

More or less right. Don't forget govt worker get health care stipend to spend on health care plan (dental, medical, HSA). That's worth alot!

 

[mfdoom]

The best I have seen is government funded jobs
13d federal holiday
12d sick time, accumulate forever and payable when you retire
15d to start, up to 24d vacation
fat pension: 50% monthly income at 20 yrs service, 75% 30 yrs, 100% 40 yrs

I had a friend that switched from retail to this. She is practically getting paid an extra 100k every year on top of her 140k/yr salary if you know how much that pension worth... 70k income (50% pension) in just 20 yrs of service until you die; you'll need about $2M of investment to do that. $2M/20 yrs = $100k/yr.

Damn. I need to get into the UC system, I didn't know it was that different from the VA. Do county jobs in CA have different benefits, too?

 

[rxdawg21]

I am sure career rphs who aren't short sighted are lining up for 240k/yr working 40h/w if you don't. Retire at 55 and make $105k (75% pension) with COLA.

It's UC system. The university in California. She paid 8% into the pension.

That is pretty nice

 

[DoctorRx1986]

To hell with PTO. I’ve been a pharmacist at a major chain for 5.5 years and though I’ve been paid many times when I take vacation time, there have been plenty of other times I request time off and get it even with no pay. Since 2014, I have nearly filled up my passport with stamps from international travel as I just turned 32 and have been to 6 out of 7 continents since then (Antártica only one I haven’t visited ). I’ve been to Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Hawaii, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Czech Republic, Russia , Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice), mainland China (Beijing, Xian), Hong Kong, Australia (3 weeks in September 2017), Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, England, and a few other wonderful nations . Just this year, in March I visited Kiev and Lviv, Ukraine and Buenos Aires, Argentina for my 32nd birthday. In a few weeks, I am headed to the state of Western Australia and then flying to the South Island of New Zealand. The point being is that if you just depend on PTO, you won’t fully enjoy life and travel if that is what you desire. The American empire is slavery and limits its average worker to 2 lousy weeks of paid vacation and even paid is not guaranteed . I can assure most others from developed nations and even more impoverished countries vacation more and enjoy life . Life is too short to rely merely on pto . But here is one major truth that I understand most cannot get around - I’m 32, young, SINGLE, no children or wife to interfere, no mortgage, and pretty much 0 commitments . Part of the trick is to float as well . When you float or at least just have a few stores where you work on a regular basis , you don’t really have anyone to control you and can do your own thing if you have a great scheduler . Also, keep your expenses as low as possible so you have more disposable income to pay those bills that you won’t get paid for while you take a lot of time off . I take maybe 6 weeks in total per year and maybe 3 weeks is paid . The DM approved me a full month off two years in a row so I can travel to distant places with enough time allotted and I got paid for maybe 3 or 4 of those days . But you know what ? Life is short and what good is it to postpone travel and enjoyment to my senior years when I have no guarantee of good health and vitality ? So, to those of you who can afford it have the motivation, take the time off . God doesn’t promise you’ll make it to 65 and be able to drink your mojito on the beach . The time is now ! I may not have millions of dollars at retirement but I’ll definitely have experiences no one can take from me and if I were to die tomorrow- hey, at least I enjoyed life, you know. The mortgage, fancy car, and two dogs (the American dream) won’t make you happy - it’s just material possessions . Live for experiences ! One of the major problems I have in working retail is that I feel in a sense I am suffering from a case of “golden handcuffs “ because if I leave , no other employer will grant me the time I want to vacation as freely as I do now . But I do know I want to escape the retail drudgery at some point soon . With the amount of time I take off yearly, I still crack $100k which is amazing . I don’t make the full $120k but it’s still incredible that I can still make a handsome salary even with several weeks of no pay each year. Anyway, I’m done . Point is- priorities , priorities, priorities...

 

[JST416]

I work hospital. I was at a hospital in South Carolina where I earned 6.5 hours per 2 week pay period and could roll 80 since I had been there 5 years. I worked 7 on 7 off so it was nice for long vacations (take 1 week and its really like 3 weeks off). I took a new job day shift at a hospital in Virginia and its 7 hours off per 2 week pay period. So about 4.5 weeks PTO, normal hours are something I wanted.

 

[jp224562]

I am sure career rphs who aren't short sighted are lining up for 240k/yr working 40h/w if you don't. Retire at 55 and make $105k (75% pension) with COLA.

It's UC system. The university in California. She paid 8% into the pension.

Damn... you have me questioning my decisions. A couple of years back I had a FT offer after residency for both UC and KP and chose the KP offer (If I'm remembering correctly, a 40k pretax difference - not counting the 401k match. Taxes take a huge chunk of the difference though.). The KP offer came with a 401k match, no pension for new hires. Ultimately, I decided against the UC offer because I looked into the pension stability and was scared off from the unfunded liabilities. Although it is state backed, the other pensions in CA have massive unfunded liabilities as well. I took the KP offer since I wanted the money now rather than later and I can't predict where the pension stability will be in 30 years.

My plan is to control what I can and invest the difference and hope it was the right choice 🙂

 

[bacillus1]

The federal govt gives 13 days vacation, 13 days sick and 10 paid holidays to everyone (holiday pay if you are required to work a holiday). After 3 years, your vacation bumps to 20 days, and after 15 years bumps to 26 days. Sick leave stays the same and can only be taken if you or immediate family are sick, or you have to take yourself or your immediate family to a dr's appt.

 

[Niceguy90]

At Walmart you start with 168 hrs from day one , it doesn't include any holidays. After 2 years your PTO increase to 184.

 

[Ethan Lee]

At Walmart you start with 168 hrs from day one , it doesn't include any holidays. After 2 years your PTO increase to 184.

When you say, it doesn't include any holidays..is it 168 + holidays.. Or 168 hrs total and you'll have to use your pto for holidays? I heard Walmart doesn't have holiday pay, so you'll have to use your pto for the holidays. Considering there's about 6 paid holiday, it's really only 120 hrs of pto.

 

[mentos]

When you say, it doesn't include any holidays..is it 168 + holidays.. Or 168 hrs total and you'll have to use your pto for holidays? I heard Walmart doesn't have holiday pay, so you'll have to use your pto for the holidays. Considering there's about 6 paid holiday, it's really only 120 hrs of pto.

120 hours (3 weeks) is still better than CVS who only gives 2 weeks. After 5 years at CVS you get 3 weeks.

 

[Niceguy90]

No these are pure PTOs you can use for your time off when you want, you have 168 hrs to schedule your vacations but approval depends on your market director, it does not include any holidays etc and the Onlyday pharmacy closes is Christmas, some other holidays we have reduced workday like close an hour or two early.

When you say, it doesn't include any holidays..is it 168 + holidays.. Or 168 hrs total and you'll have to use your pto for holidays? I heard Walmart doesn't have holiday pay, so you'll have to use your pto for the holidays. Considering there's about 6 paid holiday, it's really only 120 hrs of pto.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

State, county and federal govt have best time off packages I have come across for pharmacists.

Including vacation, sick and federal holidays which clinic is closed: 368 hours

 

[Dred Pirate]

To hell with PTO. I’ve been a pharmacist at a major chain for 5.5 years and though I’ve been paid many times when I take vacation time, there have been plenty of other times I request time off and get it even with no pay. Since 2014, I have nearly filled up my passport with stamps from international travel as I just turned 32 and have been to 6 out of 7 continents since then (Antártica only one I haven’t visited ). I’ve been to Canada, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Hawaii, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, Czech Republic, Russia , Austria, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice), mainland China (Beijing, Xian), Hong Kong, Australia (3 weeks in September 2017), Ukraine, Argentina, Brazil, England, and a few other wonderful nations . Just this year, in March I visited Kiev and Lviv, Ukraine and Buenos Aires, Argentina for my 32nd birthday. In a few weeks, I am headed to the state of Western Australia and then flying to the South Island of New Zealand. The point being is that if you just depend on PTO, you won’t fully enjoy life and travel if that is what you desire. The American empire is slavery and limits its average worker to 2 lousy weeks of paid vacation and even paid is not guaranteed . I can assure most others from developed nations and even more impoverished countries vacation more and enjoy life . Life is too short to rely merely on pto . But here is one major truth that I understand most cannot get around - I’m 32, young, SINGLE, no children or wife to interfere, no mortgage, and pretty much 0 commitments . Part of the trick is to float as well . When you float or at least just have a few stores where you work on a regular basis , you don’t really have anyone to control you and can do your own thing if you have a great scheduler . Also, keep your expenses as low as possible so you have more disposable income to pay those bills that you won’t get paid for while you take a lot of time off . I take maybe 6 weeks in total per year and maybe 3 weeks is paid . The DM approved me a full month off two years in a row so I can travel to distant places with enough time allotted and I got paid for maybe 3 or 4 of those days . But you know what ? Life is short and what good is it to postpone travel and enjoyment to my senior years when I have no guarantee of good health and vitality ? So, to those of you who can afford it have the motivation, take the time off . God doesn’t promise you’ll make it to 65 and be able to drink your mojito on the beach . The time is now ! I may not have millions of dollars at retirement but I’ll definitely have experiences no one can take from me and if I were to die tomorrow- hey, at least I enjoyed life, you know. The mortgage, fancy car, and two dogs (the American dream) won’t make you happy - it’s just material possessions . Live for experiences ! One of the major problems I have in working retail is that I feel in a sense I am suffering from a case of “golden handcuffs “ because if I leave , no other employer will grant me the time I want to vacation as freely as I do now . But I do know I want to escape the retail drudgery at some point soon . With the amount of time I take off yearly, I still crack $100k which is amazing . I don’t make the full $120k but it’s still incredible that I can still make a handsome salary even with several weeks of no pay each year. Anyway, I’m done . Point is- priorities , priorities, priorities...

#learntouseparagraphs

 

[disgonbgud]

#learntouseparagraphs

this is - rich - coming from the guy - who uses dashes - like he gets paid - to use them. 😛

 

[Digsbe]

I get 5 weeks a year, not including 7 holidays.

 

[SWPharm88]

19 days, but the way my schedule is that could be 9 weeks if i really wanted it to be. Only need 2 days off to be off from a Monday- Sunday

It's great, love taking some flu shot weeks off

 

[disgonbgud]

I get 29 days (accrued) but I can't usually take multiple weeks consecutively and need to schedule vacations far in advance.
Good benefits, new grad hospital salary (meh).

 

[Sine Cura]

Any insite on Walmart..?

Considering a RXM position there..I heard you have to use pto for holidays?

PTO FAQ

You can use PTO for holidays but only as income replacement if you do not work 5 days on the week the holiday occurs. Most of the time I work 5 days when there is a holiday the same week.

Also PTO usage policy depends on your market. I have never seen anyone take a month off without being on LOA.