Vacation in London

Could anybody comment on the situation in London regarding taking days off. I remember reading that in NY you often don't get to use anywhere near the amount of days they give you. What's it like in London offices? I supposedly have 25 days off per year, wondering how many I am realistically going to be able to use.

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very interested in this myself. heard there's muchos peer pressure to not be a wimp and stay in the office. any third part confirmations?

 

but I'd say the situation in London is slightly better than in New York.

1) Many banks (if not all) are now requiring that every person take 2 consecutive weeks off in the summer

2) A lot of people use 1 or 2 days here or there around bank holiday weekends (in the UK they always observe days off on Mondays, so no mid-week holidays)

3)People try to take a bit around Christmas/New Year's

Obviously any of the above can be canceled on a moment's notice if something pops up, but, at least where I am, they try to work with you.

 

Who's been able to take this 4 day weekend, then? Anybody still in the office this week? Anybody still working even if there's nothing "pressing" to be done that just popped up on Thursday evening?

 

I'm off for the entire 4 days - anytime we do have to work hols we get 2 extra days off as well; taking 2 weeks off during the summer isn't mandatory but 'strongly' encouraged at my bank and people seem to use up their entitlement - I have at least 30 days this year...

 
godsavethequeenA cousin of mine in new york says he had fewer than ten days of hols last year...outrageous in my view.

Last summer people would go on holiday for two-three weeks consecutively, and this was in one of the better groups at a top bank.

I don't know many people in 40 hr/wk jobs in the US that take 3 consecutive weeks of vacation time, so is that a product of being in Europe vs. US? Or is it more the culture at specific banks over there?
 

So, if I get a FT offer after the summer, could I potentially be looking at 2 consecutive weeks off for summer and adherence to Bank Holidays working as an analyst at an American bank in London?

I've been preparing myself, my family, my girlfriend and friends for the worst case scenario, so this could surprise us all nicely.

 

If your contract says 25 days off per year, does that include the weekends if you take 2 weeks off for example. Assuming you're in S&T and normally don't work weekends?

 

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