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Need a morning workout buddy
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Take the time off you need. Your PTO is there for you to use. The best version of myself is a well-rested me. I used to feel bad for taking off time, but now I know it is not only good for me, but also for the company!
I struggle at my level because I'm always afraid the folks who work under me will feel like I'm taking advantage and always taking time off.
It's not a matter of not being able to take PTO, but in feeling comfortable in taking it. I think that's what you're feeling, especially as a new manager. They say heavy is the head that wears the crown, and that goes for administrators as well as kings. We feel the weight of responsibility to keep our subordinates on task, be there when they need us, and just take care of what needs taking care of. At some point, you just have to say, "The heck with it" and take some time off. Trust your team. Maybe assign an "acting manager" to keep the others from burning the building down for the two weeks you're in Hawaii.
Nope
PTO (don’t even get me started on “unlimited” PTO BS) is the opposite of a benefit if you don’t take every day off you’re owed. Burn out is real and costs companies and fellow workers way more than however many days off you could be taking. Set up a meeting with your fellow managers to work out a system, so everyone covers at least one other person’s away time. You can expand this to the level below you. Trust that whoever reports to you will like that arrangement a lot better if they see that you aren’t an all work, no play psycho. Then take the plan to your boss(es) and tell them: this is what we’re doing. If it’s a normal company run by decent people, who also take all the PTO they’re entitled to, you’ll be applauded. If you get pushback, because PTO is meant to be an ideal never actually realized by the mushy middle managers like yourself, GTFO.
TAKE YOUR TIME OFF you can’t fill others’ cups if yours is empty