About Insurance and vacation

One thing I've noticed during my external (as re-deployed) search is that while we may bi--h reasonably about IBM health Insurance - it's decent.

Our family is High Deductible due to family issues. while it's cash out of pocket until max's met - then it's FREE. Like my recent shoulder surgery. $24K. Free (for 3 months including PT).

Fine but a competitor I'm interviewing with has UHC (total UGH!!!!!) and has a high deductible plan - BUT it never gets FREE after "maximums"

So (for me - older and with family health - YMMV and you should do the math) a similar company has UHC (ugh!!! esp in/out network) and while they have a high deductible plan - it is never "free" . I've computed I'd need $10+ thousand extra just for parity to work for them due to their insurance. So for any company I am comparing total package/expenses whether out of pocket or not.

Vacation is another. I have negotiated 5 weeks vacation ... but it's not recorded well (as IBM is very informal) ... so may have issues with a new re-deployment manager.

BUT half the interviewed companies offer "Unlimited Vacation" ... which is kind of a trap. I know of NOBODY that has taken their previous jobs vacation (4-6 weeks (experienced)) at one of these companies. while intended to save balance sheet money (financial obligations) it's a psychological barrier for employees to submit (even for a day as some companies require - really??? submit for a day?). I LOVED one company who tracked - but vacation was implicitly APPROVED and thus rarely challenged. (want to be a boss having to approve even a day every request? Annoying). so "unlimited vacation rarely works out. If you're looking at it - discuss with hiring manager "I INTEND TO TAKE 5 weeks (or so) generally as ... (week of 4th, Tday, 2xChristmas) and negotiate the "understanding" in advance.

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I negotiated 5 weeks up front - not from tenure. (IBM)
I negotiated 4 weeks up front at NTAP and 15 years tenure got me 5 or 6.

It's certainly true that most companies are hardass (such as in general NTAP at 12 days no matter experience). But one should always ask and push.

An IBM colleague of mine hired at the same time did not ask. She got 3 while I asked and pushed and got 5. Years ago Oracle offered me 4 vs normal senior starting (3 I think)

It often pays to ask - particularly at more senior positions.
It is also a chip on the negotiating table for overall compensation and benefits.

Indeed for a position I'm expecting to enter negotiations with soon - that has "unlimited vacation" - Part of negotiations will be setting expectations that I will be taking 5 weeks off and generally a week at a time (every other Friday is 5 weeks but not the same)

You likely got your total vacation days via tenure, so expect to start with a lower allowance - unless they really, really want you and they will accept every condition you lay down. IBM was good but some companies are better than IBM - Oracle benefits were awesome but the company sucks! Smaller companies often aren't able to offer at the same level, but have other benefits. But in reality, if you need a job, you may have to compromise in the current job market - not the same as it was 12 months ago.

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About Insurance and vacation

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