Ask HN: Should I postpone my vacation due to the threat of impending layoffs?

1 points by BigHatLogan 3 years ago | 9 comments

Hello HN!

I am planning to take 7 business days off in early March for a vacation. Thursday of Week 1 all the way to Friday of Week 2. However, with all the recent layoffs, I'm worried that doing this might put a target on my back. I haven't formally requested the time-off yet. I am planning to on Monday if I go through with this.

I can't help but think: If my director is told to lay off X number of people, he might think: Well, this person has been gone for some time and things haven't blown up, there he can be taken off the team. Or any other variation--maybe that I have a lack of commitment, etc. I know a lot of this is probably just the stress talking, but I would love to get some feedback here.

I wouldn't be able to do any remote work during my vacation because of the time difference (going overseas), and if I was sleeping in the middle of the day, it would really hamper the plans of the people I am going with, so that would then rope them into all of this.

Part of me thinks, "Oh, it's just a little less than one sprint", but the other part of me thinks, "This will paint a target on my back." It's a pretty large organization and I'm definitely not high enough to be protected.

What does everyone think? Thank you!

nradov 3 years ago |

I wouldn't worry about it. In most large organizations, decisions about who to lay off are made by small committees of senior executives and HR managers. They don't know or care about planned vacation time, it mainly comes down to financial issues plus (maybe) your rating on your last annual performance review. Your director probably won't even be consulted due to the risk of leaks.

BigHatLogan 3 years ago | |

Thanks. Yeah in my head it seems crazy that something like a 7 business day vacation would put a target on my back, but I'm still stressed about it nonetheless. Thanks for the input though.

groffee 3 years ago |

When you're on your deathbed are you going to look back and think "gee golly, I'm really glad I worked those 7 extra days and got laid off anyway" or "that vacation I spent with <name> was the best time of my life, especially when we <whatever>"

Life is for living, you're working this job so you can go on vacation, if you don't go you may as well already be dead.

BigHatLogan 3 years ago | |

Yeah, that's a good point. I'm "guessing" if I'm on the chopping block, the vacation won't make or break it either way.

mr90210 3 years ago |

You probably already know this but, do what you feel comfortable of doing.

BigHatLogan 3 years ago | |

That's the problem--I could see myself doing both :( Guess I have to make a decision soon

mr90210 3 years ago | | |

I am quite sure your gut is telling you to hold off the vacations a bit. What about having a mini-vacation in one weekend or multiple weekends, or even taking a Thursday and a Friday in order to get 4 days off?

Ultimately, follow your gut.