If I quit my job can they take my paid vacation time from me?

Question

I am an administrative worker for a clinical research company and am hourly. I have accrued about 60 hours of vacation time, about a day of sick hours and a day or so of "personal" hours. If I give two weeks notice and refuse to stay longer even if they want me to can they take any of these earned hours away from me?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

I've been in HR for 9 years - they can not take any vacation that you are due.....being due is the key word. depending on the company policy they may not owe all days at termination the same as you would be allowed to take as an employee who works all year. Check your company policy to determine the payout policy and how they count accruing in this situation....also, depending on the state you work in and/or company typically sick/personal is not paid out at termination.

Answer 2

Do you have other options? If not, the 2 week vacation money might just help you through the search for a new job. Make sure to check your company's policy for this, it can make or break you. There is a lady here at my work that is doing what you are thinking. She put in for her vacation, and then gave notice when she left for vacation so she wouldn't have to deal with the treatment given when you leave a job. Good luck!! Misery at work sucks the life right out of you. Be happy, be healthy.

Answer 3

companies get by saying you don't actually earn two weeks vacation on Jan 1. but rather you accrue them over the course of the year (1.3 days a month) so if you took 2 weeks vacation in march and then quit in april they could actually say you owe THEM and dock you..i quit a company but took three weeks vacation and turned in my notice after the first week they wouldn't pay me my last week i was only making about 300 a week so what's the point of a lawyer that would cost more to fight it.

Answer 4

Best thing to do is to take that 60 hours of vacation time, sick and personal time and turn in your 2 weeks at the time of taking that time. Or take the time & then just quit. But yes they can take it from you. Sorry - but good luck at the next job.

Answer 5

You need to refer to your employee manual for this one.

Every company has a different policy on whether vacation time must be used or lost, so check the manual.

In my experience most companies have a "use it or lose it" when it comes to sick time. That is only supposed to be used if you are actually sick, so the theory is you don't actually "earn" it, you just can use it if needed. Personal time is usually viewed in this same light.

Answer 6

Depends on your state.

Are you also under contract with them?

From what I understand, if you quit a workplace and have earned time off, you are most likely going to forfeit that time. Certain places will probably pay you for it, but not all places.

Call your human resources department and ask them this question. If they state you will be loosing that time, then use it. Give them notice you will be leaving, but take your time off before you leave. So.... if you have two weeks off, request the time, when you get it, befor you leave give them your two week notice.

Answer 7

Theoretically, yes---unless you have a work contract that specifically states they cannot and must pay you for them.....my advice is to take a nice, long vacation for personal reasons and find the job you want while being paid by the other one.

Answer 8

Yes.

Your best bet is to take 60 hours of vacation time and THEN quit.

Answer 9

NS, but my advice would be to take all that time at the same time you give 2 weeks notice, that way you've got $$ coming in while you look/start a new job or just take it easy.

Answer 10

As long as you work out your notice, do a good job of course, you should recieve your vacation pay and personal hours when you recieve your last check....I'm not sure aobut your sick time.