Contractor Holiday - How Much

[doodab]

I used to take 6-8 weeks a year or more, but since the downturn and a long period on the sidelines I'm limiting myself to a the odd day here and there and a couple of weeks at christmas, at least until my warchest overfloweth again.

[Mehmeh]

This is something I'm struggling with at the moment.

Time in between contracts is too stressful to go off on holiday (what if I'm still on the bench in 2 months...)

I don't like to take time off in contract, but I have and it feels great...just gotta ignore £££s you coulda earned.

If I get a renewal on current contract I'm going to accept but have a delayed start date on the extension of 2 weeks. So I can go surf and relax in portugal.

[alreadypacked]

I used to take 6-8 weeks a year or more, but since the downturn and a long period on the sidelines I'm limiting myself to a the odd day here and there and a couple of weeks at christmas, at least until my warchest overfloweth again.

I think warchest is the key, if you don't build one, you will never want to go on a long holiday.

[teclo]

I usually only take time off when the office I am working at is shut for Christmas / bank holidays. although this year I am taking 10 days out during August to visit Seattle and New York. I've done the 18 months with nothing more than a christmas break before and it isn't good. Since this contract looks like it will run towards the end of the year I might as well take something.

[ratewhore]

I take 6 weeks per year then every 3 years or so I'll take 6 months off. But then, I work to live, not the other way round.

Luverly...

[ChimpMaster]

If I was constantly in demand I would schedule a modest amount of time off (3-4 weeks)and try not to think of the money !

These are my sentiments exactly. Specialist skillsets don't allow the luxury of choosing time off.

Previously I have taken as little as 8 days a year because fortunately I ended up in a long term contract and aim to max it out. Recently I have upped this to 3 weeks in a year, depending on availability of work. I work in a dying skillset and once I'm out of this contract I'm not going to find another contract easily at all. Having said that I can't complain how the past few sunset years have worked out for me.

[Sysman]

I only used to take time off between gigs but that changed when I got one with repeated extensions. Four weeks a year plus a few long weekends became the norm. I try to avoid taking time off during school holidays - the office becomes decidedly quieter and spring and autumn can be great times to do some walking.

I doubt I'll have any time off this year, as things are looking busy, but at least I shouldn't be working away from home.

[Board Game Geek]

I get BH's like the rest of the mob.

Anything extra and I have to put in a holiday request form and get approval. Not always possible when the dept is 50% understaffed and we are all doubleshifting. There's no cover.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Finish gig - take 1-2 months hol, on to next gig. I do mean hols BTW we had 6 weeks in Australia/NZ in between last 2 gigs.

Been working away 10 years but have 2 year old now so it's getting harder.

[Platypus]

I take 1-2 days a year in addition to Bank Hols.

It's a killer, but at the moment I can't afford not too, i.e. holiday cost += lost billing; // expensive hols!