Is vacation time deferrable?

By Raymond Dreyfack -- Plant Engineering, 6/1/1999

Can an employee accumulate vacation time from one year to the next? It depends.

Supply Room Attendant Barbara Cotrell approached her supervisor's desk. "Mike and I have decided to take an around-the-world cruise next year."

"Sounds like a great idea. Hey, you're talking about 6 wk or more. Are you planning to quit?"

"Nope. What I'd like to do is defer this year's vacation for 1 yr."

Maintenance foreman Jim Ransom stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I hate to shatter your dreams, Barb, but a clause in the labor agreement states..." He pulled the contract from a desk drawer and read: "'Vacations are not cumulative and must be taken or paid for within a 12-mo period of being earned'."

"What page is that on?"

"Page 128."

"Okay, turn to page 131."

Ransom did so and read: "'Employees with 12 or more years of service may defer their vacation time for not more than 1 yr, provided written application is made and approved in advance'."

Barbara grinned. "That's me. Thirteen years as of June 6th." She handed over the application.

Question: Do you think the reason for Barbara's request is valid enough to warrant approval?

Jensen's verdict: Ransom showed the application to his boss, Plant Engineer Arthur Jensen. The executive scanned down the letter and initialed the request. He told Ransom wistfully, "Ask her if I can carry her bags."