Forums
Extra Vacation for Candidate
Recruiting & Staffing
Extra Vacation for Candidate
Exchange ideas about sourcing, screening, interviewing, finding passive candidates, measuring your results, and more.
We are filling a difficult position and found a candidate that we like. We offer 3 weeks vacation but he wants an additional 5 days. I don't really want to set this precedent but don't want to lose th
0
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId56
Cat:Topic ForumsForum:ForumId56Discussion:DiscussionId36567
Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » Extra Vacation for Candidate
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/7/2010 3:22 AM EDT
|
Posts: 58
First: 12/1/2006 Last: 9/2/2011 |
We are filling a difficult position and found a candidate that we like. We offer 3 weeks vacation but he wants an additional 5 days. I don't really want to set this precedent but don't want to lose the candidate. Any thoughts? |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/7/2010 4:16 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1103
First: 3/16/2007 Last: 8/19/2011 |
Is this person going to work for you or for another manager? If it is you then you can make that decision. If it is another manager then you need to engage them in the decision process.
As to alternatives there are several I can think of. One of course is the cash value of the extra 5-days. Could that value be added to the offered salary? (I can't give you the 5-days but I am able to give you the cash value of that 5-days in your base salary). You could negotiate a different amount than 5-days You could do a one time only extra 5-days. You could explore why the individual wants the extra 5-days and see if some other alternative arrangement could be made. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/10/2010 8:14 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Are you sure you would be setting the precedent? Extra vacation days is the most common item most companies will provide as a "throw in" to seal a deal. One extra weeks pay may push other issues of pay equity and hiring range. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/11/2010 4:35 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1771
First: 10/24/2002 Last: 9/14/2011 |
I agree heartily with howard7 - this is an extremely common way to sesl employment deals. Just because you give one employee an extra week's vacation doesn't mean you suddenly have to give it to everyone else. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 5:46 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 3
First: 12/21/2009 Last: 6/24/2010 |
I've run into this more than a few times. If the company and manager are in agreement you can offer the person extra time (which may not be the whole 5 days) as a onetime deal (maybe the need it the 1st year because of a planned vacation) or for years to come. Have it formally recognized so there is a record that can't be disputed, but informal enough that it isn't in your tracking systems. The Manager just agrees to give the person an extra number of days off (1 time or annually). |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 5:59 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 11
First: 3/27/2008 Last: 3/1/2011 |
Once you open that door....just be prepared! Is your policy competitive? If that's the case and you don't want to make an exception, then I would go with the extra pay. We don't make exceptions about vacation here and I'd have a revolt if we started doing this (and I'm sure word would get out)... |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 6:28 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 3
First: 6/6/2006 Last: 8/11/2011 |
We've done this several times. It can be a good negotiating tool. I don't think you're setting a precedent. If someone doesn't ask, they don't get it. For those that are already there and don't have the extra 5 days - they should have negotiated it when they were hired. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 6:46 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 2
First: 3/27/2008 Last: 6/24/2010 |
I frequently use this as a negotiating tool. Also, if most of your EEs start with 3 weeks and then get an additional week after 3 yrs or so, you can give the new hire the extra week but communicate in writing (offer letter) that they are basically getting this week in advance and will not be gaining more time in 3yrs. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 7:00 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 6/24/2010 Last: 6/24/2010 |
To me this is a cultural issue. Only you know what the culture and morale of your company will bear if this gets out... and it will. From everything I've read, great managers and great companies don't necessarily treat everyone equally -- they work with individuals so they are engaged and produce for the company. If you are a 'command and control and rules' type of organization, you might need to skip (or choose to create a culture change). But if you are more merit based and able to focus on production and give some metrics that come in exchange for the 5 days, that might be the way to go. |
|
|
Extra Vacation for Candidate
posted at 6/24/2010 7:09 AM EDT
|
|
Posts: 1
First: 6/24/2010 Last: 6/24/2010 |
Your instinct, if the company policy is strict, is to continue to follow it. Realistically, with an aging workforce, experience is going to be harder to come by. Many companies use this as a negotiating tool, don't be the last to do so. Experienced and talented workers are not going to want to step down in benefits as they switch employers. |
Forums » Topic Forums » Recruiting & Staffing » Extra Vacation for Candidate
