Using PTO/Vacation time to call games

[Umpire in Chief]

2 years ago I had a job which required to me to account for my day to the minute even as a salaried employee. So if I left work before 5:30 I had to take the difference in PTO. The good news was that they had a very generous PTO plan so I really didn't mind.

 

Today I have a different job. My current job doesn't have as generous PTO plan, but they are much more flexible about me coming and going within reason. Now because I don't accrue at the same rate I've hoarded my PTO time and now have a nice bank. So I'm considering strategically taking entire days off to call college games out of town. 

 

So what do you do? 

 

Does your job allow you flexibility to take time off to do games? Do you take PTO days to call games? 

[grayhawk]

I've never taken PTO to umpire.  My job provides some flexibility, but this year I am only working games 4:30 or later or on weekends.  I'm not working any 3:00 games this year.

[johnnyg08]

I have to take PTO.  I have no issue with that.

[SnareDrum]

My job gives me very little flexibility, but if say, a post-season or other great opportunity came up, I could do it. My principal doesn't like constant substitutes anymore than I do. I'm also trying to hold on to all of the PTO that I can for personal reasons. I guess it comes down to the nature of your chosen "first job".

[Jocko]

I will use a couple of weeks vacation/holiday leave to call our WS. I'm hoping I get to use a week for CDP this season.

[Richvee]

I get 4 weeks PTO and it's broken down to hours, so I get 160 hrs/yr. During high school season, I work a lot of 9-2 days and take 3 hours PTO to work 4 o'clock games. Sometimes I can work my schedule to work a few hours longer on days I don't have a game and save the PTO.  I have a lot of control over my schedule. It's one of my favorite things about working retail hours. Of course, retail hours means working LOTS of Saturdays. So I lose out there. 

[Thunderheads]

For me it's either personal time, sick time, or a vacation day.  I can't take overtime, so I can accrue time worked extra which can be advantageous sometimes.  However, ...I'm an early guy and usually done in enough time to do a 4pm HS game.

 

Tourneys that start during the week would have to be vacation time .......

[gnhbua93]

For me it's either personal time, sick time, or a vacation day.  I can't take overtime, so I can accrue time worked extra which can be advantageous sometimes.  However, ...I'm an early guy and usually done in enough time to do a 4pm HS game.

 

Tourneys that start during the week would have to be vacation time .......

It's good for you because nobody is supervising you while you moderate this website while on regular work hours.

[Thunderheads]

For me it's either personal time, sick time, or a vacation day.  I can't take overtime, so I can accrue time worked extra which can be advantageous sometimes.  However, ...I'm an early guy and usually done in enough time to do a 4pm HS game.

 

Tourneys that start during the week would have to be vacation time .......

It's good for you because nobody is supervising you while you moderate this website while on regular work hours.

who said I had a supervisor?

[sdix00]

I am on the west coast, but most of my clients are on the east coast, so I try to get in early - around 6am and leave at 2pm on HS gamedays and between 4-5 on rec gamedays. 

 

That said, we just signed the biggest name in my industry, so it's been a lot of 4am days the last few months. But two 3:15 games per week are definitely doable.   I get a Saturday HS game every week, too. 

 

There is an assignor near where I work that Semper hooked me up with last year.   He gets us fees 25-40% above average and assigns only premium umpires.   

I don't umpire for the money (yet).   But, between working premium games only and having the flexibility at work, my situation is ideal, I think. 

[cyclonehokiece]

Right now, basically working part time only, so just arranged my schedule to make it work.  Who knows in the future, but I probably won't be using my PTO/vacation on games especially when you don't have much banked.  If it comes to a point in my career where I am in a use or get bought out, I might change my tune.

[JaxRolo]

I get 8 hours a Payperiod x 26 = 208 Hours a year. That a little over 5 weeks a year.

 

I am allowed to carryover up to 240 hours for the next year.

 

Lat year had had my 206 + 240 Carry over.

 

So i had no problems taking off early or taking whole days off from work.

[gnhbua93]

Rolo that is great to do T-Ball

[Jocko]

I get 8 hours a Payperiod x 26 = 208 Hours a year. That a little over 5 weeks a year. I am allowed to carryover up to 240 hours for the next year. Lat year had had my 206 + 240 Carry over. So i had no problems taking off early or taking whole days off from work.

I hate you

[Welpe]

My job is generally flexible enough I can squeeze out a little early when needed, which isn't often. I make up for it elsewhere so I think in the end, the company is still getting the better bargain.

[bayoublue]

I work offshore and my schedule is 28 days on/28 days off. I call 5-7 days a week when I am home. It does suck that I have to sit offshore for a month with no baseball games to call.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I generally burn a week of vacation every year at spring break to work HS spring break tournaments. If it happens to rain, I go on into work. During the regular season, I get to work earlier, and make sure I am caught up before leaving for the day. As the manager of a division of a multi-national corporation, I have no one looking directly over my shoulder, so perhaps it is easier for me than most. Any days that I have no games, I stay and put in extra time, and encourage my staff to take off early. It builds goodwill, and lessens resentment for me leaving early.

[Richvee]

I generally burn a week of vacation every year at spring break to work HS spring break tournaments. If it happens to rain, I go on into work. During the regular season, I get to work earlier, and make sure I am caught up before leaving for the day. As the manager of a division of a multi-national corporation, I have no one looking directly over my shoulder, so perhaps it is easier for me than most. Any days that I have no games, I stay and put in extra time, and encourage my staff to take off early. It builds goodwill, and lessens resentment for me leaving early.

I try to do the same thing with my guys. If I don't have a game, I'll take the closing shift and let someone go early. I work Saturdays and rotate Saturdays off with the crew. I take only one or two off all season, but I take off 90% of the Sundays off and do 2 or 3 games every Sunday. The guys don't mind doing the Sundays because I give them the Saturdays off. Keeping everyone happy is key. This way, if a game comes up on short notice I can usually get someone to cover me in a pinch because they know the favor will be returned.  

[clawdad]

I don't really have to burn a lot of time off.  Since I work midnight- 8 a.m, I go home after work and sleep during the day. Most HS games are starting @ 5 p.m. this year; last year it was 4:30 start times.  Either way, not too bad as far as getting enough sleep and saving leave time.

 

It also works good with SWMBO.  She works during the day and our son is at school, so it is quiet while I am sleeping.  Get up in the evening to have dinner and quality time with the fam, then they are off to bed and I go to work.  Only real killer is during the summer when it is really nice out, and I can't sleep quite as well.

[maineump]

I am a firefighter. Our work schedule is great to work baseball games, as I work 24 hour shifts. I do take vacations if I get assigned week-long tournaments. I am also the Asst UIC at a WS that we host in our town, so I schedule vacation time around that.