The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off

The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The Truth About Using Personal Days and Taking Time Off The whole truth and nothing but the truth about taking time off by using personal days.Every new job comes with its own benefits. Vacation time, sick time, personal time thats enough to make anyones head spin Each company has its own rules about taking time off, paid time off policy, manuals and ways in which they apply and enforce them. Would you like to get that sorted once and for all? Read on for the primer you need.The three types of paid time off.Think of paid time off as a set of three bucketsVacation timeSick timePersonal timeVacation time and sick time are easiest to understand, but what is personal time? In most companies, personal days are yours to use for time off from work however you like. You could use them for moving, longer medical appointments or a family emergency. Some companies will allow you to a dd personal days onto your vacation days, or official holidays, to get a longer stretch of time out of the office.Here are some additional things to keep in mind.Some companies split your paid time off from work into buckets. Others simply give you a pool of paid time off to use however you like. It is helpful to understand the companys paid time off policy on this as you are going through the hiring process, especially if you have a preference.Vacation time is typically accrued at a certain rate during the year so that you earn a fraction of a vacation day for every week you work. Sick time allotment is usually made available at the start of the year. Your companys rules may vary, so read the employee manual to understand the details. Its disappointing to find out that your 10 day vacation to the Caribbean a month after you start your new job will have to be mostly unpaid because you have not earned enough vacation time yet.Understand the companys policy on rolling unused vacation and personal days into the following year. Some companies allow you to bank unused vacation and personal time for one year and use it later, others require that you use it in the assigned year or risk losing it.If the companys standard split between vacation, sick time and personal time is not optimal for your needs, consider re-negotiating it. For example, if you typically dont need personal days and would prefer to have more vacation days, make the request.Employee manual is one thing, but your managers expectations and preferences around paid time off from work are equally important. How far in advance do you have to request time off? What criteria does the manager use to grant or deny it? This is a delicate subject to bring up during interviews, but if you know that you need paid time off for a specific non-negotiable purpose (honeymoon or a big surgery coming up) you may want to get some clarity before you sign the offer.Unpaid time off is a viable option that often gets overlo oked. Understand the companys policy for granting unpaid time off and what the maximum number of days is. A blueprint for making the most out of your personal days.Now that you understand the three big categories of paid time off from work, how do you make the most out of them specifically the mysterious personal days? Make sure youre actually taking time off.This should be obvious, and yet so many professionals feel guilty about taking time off. Sure, your team is busy all the time. However, paid time off is your earned benefit. It is a part of your compensation package. You wouldnt feel guilty about cashing a payroll check, so why do the same about vacation or personal days?Communicate up front.I recommend giving as much advance notice as you can when you plan on taking time off. Your manager is in charge of making sure that the work gets done and will appreciate the lead time to plan and align resources accordingly. Vacation time typically calls for more advance notice than pers onal days. How much notice you give and how you explain the request is up to you a lot depends on your relationship with your manager and the cultural norms of your company.Be gracious and reasonable.Yes, vacation and personal time represent your earned benefits. However, your manager is not required or guaranteed to grant every request. Look at it from your managers perspective and work to find a solution that will satisfy you both. If there is a deadline that could be compromised by your absence, some flexibility on your part can earn extra credit.Think twice before lying about being sick.Did you wake up late? Is it a gorgeous day that you would rather spend at the lake than in the office? Are you just not feeling it today?Sorry to disappoint, but none of those are valid reasons for faking illness to get a day off. Sure, you could call your manager and claim stomach flu in a shaky voice. However, think about what this move will cost you in terms of integrity and professional rela tionships.If you know there are no urgent deadlines and you would not be letting anyone down, you might consider asking for a personal day. However, I would caution you against doing this frequently and on short notice. If you establish a pattern of being flaky or unreliable, it will affect your career prospects. From special high-value projects to promotions, managers choose professionals they can count on.Dont use paid time off to avoid difficult tasks.We all run into challenges at work. Whether you are dealing with a difficult client or a co-worker who wont collaborate, sometimes it might feel like avoiding the next interaction is the best strategy. Try to be present to your thinking I dont recommend asking for personal time off to avoid attending a tough meeting. After all, work responsibilities will catch up with you sooner or later.If youre taking time off, use it wisely. Spend at least a portion of the day unwinding in constructive and effective ways. Binge-watching Game of T hrones may not be the best thing you can do to get recharged Consider going for a walk, catching up on errands that will make your life easier, resting up and eating well. Enjoy the company of family and friends, or spend the day solo. The important part is knowing yourself and doing the things that will recharge your batteries.In summary, understand the rules and your managers preferences to make the most out of your paid time off. Think twice before lying, and dont use personal days as a means of avoiding a difficult task. Spend your time off in ways that boost your energy, nurture your spirit, and give you the space to recover and get back to work. Use these tips, and you will arrive at the office bright-eyed and brimming with fresh motivation to get things doneWant to see how your resume stacks up? Try out our free critique today

Learn About Being an Aquarist

Learn About Being an AquaristLearn About Being an AquaristAn aquarist is responsible for the care of fish and seestreitkraft mammals kept in captivity. Aquarists have a wide variety of duties primarily focused on providing care for marine creatures and maintaining a quality environment for these animals to live in. Job Duties Primary duties for an aquarist include monitoring water quality and temperature, cleaning tanks, repairing equipment, designing exhibits, giving educational presentations to visitors, observing animal behavior, providing behavioral enrichment activities, and preparing and distributing food each day. Some positions may also involve restraining animals for veterinary treatments, capturing, and quarantining sick animals, or breeding replacement stock for the aquarium. In some cases, an aquarist may be required to travel to various locations (often both domestic and international destinations) to collect specimens from oceans, rivers, or lakes. These captured sp ecimens must then be safely contained and transported back to the aquarium. Open water diving skills and certifications are necessary for this sort of work. A passport is also required for international travel. Aquarist careers often require strenuous physical activity, significant periods of time spent in the water while outfitted in scuba gear, and the use of tools and equipment to complete the required tank maintenance tasks. Career Options A variety of organizations may provide employment for aquarists including aquariums, zoos, theme parks, laboratories, and research facilities. Positions exist primarily with private businesses but may also be available with divisions of government. Experienced aquarists can advance to supervisory and managerial roles such as curator positions within the aquarium. It is also possible to branch out into other related positions such as marine mammal trainer, veterinary technician, or marine biologist. Education Training Aquarists must ha ve (at minimum) a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology, zoology, aquaculture, or a closely related area. Scuba diving certification is also required, as is a certification course in first aid and CPR, to ensure that the aquarist can safely carry out their duties (which may involve a significant amount of time spent underwater). It is wise for aspiring aquarists to pursue marine internships to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. There are many paid and unpaid opportunities to work with marine mammals, turtles, fish, and other marine life. Volunteer work at local aquariums and zoos will also lend strength to the career seekers resume. Professional Groups Many aquarists choose to become members of professional groups related to marine animals. These groups provide a variety of networking opportunities, educational information, and other support to the aquarist community. One of the most prominent groups for aquarists is the Association of Zoos Aquariums (AZA). The AZA is an organization that also provides accreditation to zoological parks and aquariums that meet criteria related to conservation, science, and education. Individual memberships in the AZA are available to employees of zoos, aquariums, related facilities, or organizations designated as conservation partners. There are also many international, regional, and state groups that can provide information and support to aspiring aquarists at the professional and hobbyist levels. Salary The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not separate aquarist salary data into its own separate category in their salary survey, but they do include the career as a part of the more general category of nonfarm animal caretakers. In 2017, the BLS reported a median salary of $22,950 per year for nonfarm animal caretakers. Experienced aquarists in supervisory roles earn significantly higher salaries, often in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 per year. New aquarists should expect a starting salary mor e in the range of $18,000 to $20,000. Of course, total compensation may also vary due to the geographic area, the size of the aquarium, the aquarists area of specialization, and the specific duties the job entails. Career Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey indicated that careers for nonfarm animal caretakers would show a 22 percent increase over the decade from 2016 to 2026, a rate much faster than the average for all careers, and this should also be reflected in the growth rate for aquarist positions. There is also a particularly high turnover rate for aquarist positions, as they are frequently used as an entry-level stepping stone to other marine careers. Positions working with marine mammals tend to be the most difficult to obtain, as there is a particularly strong level of interest from individuals wishing to work with marine mammal species, such as dolphins, seals, and whales. Those interested in marine mammal aquarist positions should gain significant expe rience through internships to strengthen their resume, as there are usually many applicants for each available position.

How to Locate Air Force Personnel

How to Locate Air Force PersonnelHow to Locate Air Force PersonnelThe AF Worldwide Locator handles official and unofficial requests to locate Air Force Personnel. The AF Worldwide Locator only has location information on individuals who are currently receiving compensation from the USAF (Active duty, Air National Guard, Reserve, Retired and Civil Service Personnel). If the individual has separated from the AF, no information is available. Information on individuals stationed overseas or in a sensitive position will not be released. However, the locator service will forward mail to that person for up to 90 days, as long as the correct postage is on the envelope and any required fee has been paid. Official Requests Official requestsare defined as requests received from any government agency and the Dept of Defense (DOD). All other requests are considered unofficial in nature. DoD official requests may be handled over the phone providing the requester gives their full personenname, rank, SSN, organization, and purpose of the request. Failure to provide ?requested information will result in non-disclosure of requested information. Phone numbers for DOD Official Requests are Commercial (210) 565-2660 or Miltary to Miltary (DSN) 665-2660 Hours of Operation 730 am - 430 pm (Central Standard Time), Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Federal or State Government agency request for information must be in pursuant to the Privacy Act as stated in the United States Code 552(a)(7). The request must be in writing on official letterhead and signed by a Section Chief or higher. Law enforcement agency requests must be in writing on the appropriate letterhead. Unofficial Requests All unofficial requests must be in writing and fees may be applicable (Note Parents and spouses may utilize the above phone number). Requests must be in writing. State in your request who you are looking for along with your name, address, and telephone number. Your request constitutes consent to release this information to the member. Place this information in an unsealed envelope with a return address, postage affixed and the individuals name in the addressee portion of the envelope. Mail all information to the Worldwide Locator. Information Required The following information is required to make a positive identification Full name to include a middle initial, rank (officer/enlisted/GS)Social Security Number or Air Force serial number (in known)Date of birth or an Air Force duty history to include the place, month and year of assignments after June 1970 (Note The AF Locator Service does not maintain assignment information prior to June 1970, so such information cannot be used for validation purposes). Fees A fee of $3.50, per individual request, is required from all personnel or businesses requesting addresses on military personnel. Requests must be in writing. The Worldwide Locator also provides a Statement or Verification of Service. It applies to acti ve duty AF personnel only. A fee of $5.20, per individual written request, is required. Checks or money orders must be made payable to DAO-DE Randolph AFB TX. Air Force Locator Address HQ AFPC/MSIMDL 550 C. St West Ste 50 Randolph AFB TX 78150-4752 Family Emergencies Families with emergencies should not use the above procedures. Families with emergencies should contact their local chapter of the American Red Cross. Use operator assistance if necessary, or you may also find your local Red Cross chapter telephone number by visiting www.redcross.org, then entering your zip code in the Find Your Local Red Cross box on the left side of the page.