Time Off from Work to Chase? [Archive]

Joey Ketcham

03-27-2007, 12:30 AM

Mike Hollingshead

03-27-2007, 12:41 AM

My thoughts driving back from se MN yesterday were about completely the opposite. I kept thinking, anymore I really wish I had a job to go to so that I'd have to sit some of these out.

Back when I had a real job, I'd get like 2 weeks but would also have a personal day I could take in small chunks. My hours were 7 to 3:30 which worked out well since I live within 4 hours of a lot of targets. If I needed a few more hours to get where I had to go I'd often use 2 hours of my personal day and leave at 1:00(skipping the 30 minute lunch). Doing that 4 times a year can really help out if it's done on the right days. I also used to just call in sick....rather often.

Jeff Miller

03-27-2007, 12:45 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?1. Not leniant at all. In my department vacation time is not advanced so I cannot chase at my leisure. My hours are 12 to 9, which is horrible for chasing, unless I want to get a glimpse of a tornado after dark, however at that stage the storms have likely congealed into an MCS or there is no chance at me making target. Bottom line is once I get off work the show is usually over. The department is smaller so they are hard on taking time off unless it is PRE-PLANNED (nearly impossible to do when chasing is involved).

2. NO.

3. sure you can. You just won't be allowed back.

4. I am a professional technical support representative for computer users.

Dan Robinson

03-27-2007, 12:55 AM

I am extremely blessed to work in web design for an internet service provider that gives me near-unlimited flexibility. Back in 2003, I began working at home to save gas on the 50-mile round trip commute. My job is project-based - meaning I can set my own schedule as long as the projects get done. I work until I get tired, then go to bed until I wake up. My sleep patterns vary greatly and I almost never use an alarm clock. I routinely shift between working at night and during the day. Since my work is internet-based, I can take it with me anywhere - I just need my laptop, external hard drive and client project folders. I've set up my 'mobile office' in hotels during chase trips in order to get smaller work tasks done.

All this means I can chase anytime and anywhere I choose, with no advance notice given to anyone. Occasionally I will have a meeting with a client that I can't miss (once every week or two), but it's rare that those fall on the same day as a chase. When it does, sometimes I've even been able to get meetings rescheduled. My company and my boss are the coolest and most supportive people I've ever worked for. I owe a lot of what I've been able to do in my chasing career to them.

My job is the perfect fit for me and I can't imagine ever working 9-to-5 in a cubicle again. A blessing I am extremely thankful for.

The only thing that limits my chasing now is finances. To chase everything, you need both time and money. Even with unlimited flexibility, you still have to work to keep the bills paid.

Those of you with restrictive jobs, why not look for a better alternative? Particularly if you're single and can afford to look for a new job somewhere. There are plenty of opportunities waiting to be found.

I will say that being single also makes this lifestyle possible. If I ever get married, everything I just said is probably out the window! But that's another thread.

Joey Ketcham

03-27-2007, 12:56 AM

My thoughts driving back from se MN yesterday were about completely the opposite. I kept thinking, anymore I really wish I had a job to go to so that I'd have to sit some of these out.

LOL, there have been days when nothing happened that I had wished I been denied vacation.

Sarah Berling

03-27-2007, 12:59 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?

1. It's not too bad, but then, it's just a part time job.
2. As long as I get the work done first, yes.
3. It's really not a good idea.
4. I service, install, and repair ATM machines around New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Dustin Wilcox

03-27-2007, 01:06 AM

Since I am still in classes I only work about 12 hours a week and that job is basically come and go as I wish, and as for class the only time I have to go is when I have a test or something and I have even worked my way around that to chase, so while classes are in session I am basically free to go anywhere anytime. As for the summer I work a 40 hour work week M-F 7-3:30 getting off at that time allows me to make a lot of target areas, and since its just a seasonal temporary job I can always take off at 2 or noon or just call in without too much hassle. It definitly makes me want to keep taking classes forever as its going to suck when I have to get a "real" job, as it will HAVE to be one that allows me to get off somewhat easily for chasing otherwise I would go insane.

Mikel Shively

03-27-2007, 01:08 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?

1. Very lenient. I set my own schedule.

2. I get to take any time I want off, I just don't get paid for the time I don't work

3. Yes

4. I work at home doing customer service for a cell phone provider.

Danny Neal

03-27-2007, 02:12 AM

1,How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?

2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?

3.Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?

4.What kind of job do you have?

1. I only REALLY work from February to May. But I have plenty of assistants to cover my hide, if I am "suddenly Ill"

2. I can take off pretty much as much time as I want. Probably wouldn't look good but, hey.

3. I don't get vacation time so I make my own kinda.

4. Assistant varisty baseball coach at Evergreen Park High School / Head Freshman Coach.

Pretty easy job. Make money doing something I love.

Billy Griffin

03-27-2007, 03:21 AM

Oh boy, since I'm up, might as well chime in here!

First off, I've been in the safety profession for almost 15 years now. I have found this a painful experience to even discuss, but I'll try...

It never fails that if and when I start a new job, the topic of weather and me taking time off comes up in the final interview process. At first, most business owners are very understanding, as I try to explain to them that taking off an hour here, an hour there to chase, never really equals the total if I were just to take off a regular two weeks of vacation. But what happens to me is quite simple... other people see it as me coming and going as I please, and the next thing you know, they're getting pssd' and start moaning and crying to the boss about it. And it never fails, usually after 3-4 times, the next thing, my boss is telling me that I can't do that anymore, and must take vacation time in the normal fashion as everyone else.

Other times, it's become SO BAD that I was once fired from a job for being away from the office, and was actually NOT stormchasing! Bottom line, it seems like I have had many a bad experience combining chasing and work. They just don't seem to mix well with me. Problem is, I can't live without either! ;)

Maybe it's a bit easier now that I'm in the Seattle area, and don't have that temptation just to take off early or focus my entire workday around a potential storm day. Now, I'll schedule some TRUE vacation time and come back during May.

Sorry for the rant, but this one strikes a deep chord with me. Personally, I think if you have an office type job, they just expect you to be at the office, no matter what you're doing, if anything!

Maybe I should do the George Costanza thing and just leave a car at the office... that way, I'll look like the first one in for the mornings, and the last one to leave at night! :D :D :D

Dave Nelson

03-27-2007, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by jketcham http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?p=128266#post128266)
1,How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3.Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4.What kind of job do you have?

1) not too bad, can take vacation time any time of the year, unlike some
company's that have a set time of yr that they close up eg. Xmas
Getting 5 weeks vacation time to go to the USA to storm chase last
yr (2006) wasn't a problem. It even entailed taking 1.5 weeks in
advance. (just booked the time off 6 months in advance
2) as long as the work load isnt too bad can usually take a day off
here and there if I see in advance that forcasts look good.
3) could probably take unpaid leave if I wanted to, but hey ...
cant afford to do that :)
4) I'm an on the road electronics tech. travelling all over the greater
Sydney city (Australia) and surrounding region avg. ~ 1000km
(600miles) a week.
Many times I have been able to chase during the work day when
I have seen the activity building up over the mountains to the west of
the city. some times I have just worked late that nite to finish off the last repair job or 2.
As long as I get my work done ... no problem :)
If I was working in a workshop I would have missed out on so many chases

cheers
Dave N
Sydney
Australia

Marko Korosec

03-27-2007, 06:26 AM

Maybe I should do the George Costanza thing and just leave a car at the office... that way, I'll look like the first one in for the mornings, and the last one to leave at night!
lol that was a good one. Some of his tricks could be useful someday =)

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?

1. I never had any problem with my superiors taking vacations, I just have to do some plans for the time I am off work and someone to replace me for those few weeks and of course time reservation month or two in advance.

2. As Daniel said, I can take few hours or a day off easily if there are no big obligations that day obviously. But yeah, it would look a bit weird if I'd do it too often. But what can I do if initiation starts around 2pm and I work until 4pm, believe me its painful. Also I am not seeing myself explaining my boss that I am going chasing, maybe someday when there will be no way out anymore.

3. I can, but usually those unpaid days are an exception like for exams or such extra things when you're out of the usual paid vacation days and is no other option. Unortunatelly I cannot take it before I consume paid ones.

4. I work as a supervisor for road weather information system, so thankfully during summer months there is a bit less work outside and its focused more into administration things which can easily wait few days if there is a nice setup for chasing around.

Also for me here its much easier then it'd be there in States...the chase terrain I am covering is just like in a circle of 200km, so its reachable fast anywhere I go. I'd be much more interested chasing in Germany or France (500mi+ drives) where MDT risks taking place few times per season, but with such weather observations we have here, its way too big risk. Actually maybe this is a good thing, I spare my vacation time to use it in much longer effective days visiting the almighty Tornado Alley:)

John Erwin

03-27-2007, 08:43 AM

I get 5 weeks vacation time a year that I can pretty well take any time of the year, with the exception of our fiscal-year end which tends to be very busy. The only stickler is that I normally have to plan out my vacation periods well ahead of time, however I don't have to take all the days at once and its relatively easy to take one here or there if I can give a few days notice. Although its possible to take unpaid time off, doing so requires too much paperwork and wouldn't be in my best interests anyway..need cash to live I'm afraid. Like a lot of others in here I work in the Information Technology field.

Chasing on the plains is a real poker shoot for me since it will normally occur during one of my vacation periods. I am fortunate though to live in an area that sees some pretty good action during some years; I try to chase anything at all outside of work hours if I can get to it in time.

Shane Adams

03-27-2007, 09:03 AM

On our way back from northwest Kansas this past Saturday night, Chris Wilburn and I got into a discussion about storm chasers who can be out a lot during the season to chase and it brings me to these questions…

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?

Extremely. My boss and I have been friends longer than he's been my employer, so he knew quite well my passion for chasing years prior to my working for him. In the past there have been a few situations where chasing was an issue, but in recent years it's never been, because when I came back to this job, unlimited chasing time was the #1 condition. He promised me on that and has delivered.

Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?

Yes. My problem is I work in Dallas, TX while still living in Norman, OK, which means I'm 200 miles out of the way to even start, compared to when I'm home. Every day I take off work to chase becomes two days off if I don't drive straight through. Sounds easy but when you have to stay up 24 hours just to get the chase in and then get back to work, and THEN you have to work a 12-hour day, it gets exhaustive. I decided after last year I just couldn't survive another season like 2006, when I was doing 24-36 hour wake shifts just to make chases during the week...sometimes more than one a week. I love chasing, but I have to make a living and I just can't physically keep going under that grueling schedule. I have never been able to take an extended chase vacation.

Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?

I probably could if I wanted to, but I'd be living under a bridge. There's only two people in the entire company....the owner and myself. We are the best at what we do and we're constantly swamped with work because everyone wants us...which means if I step away for chasing, he has to bring someone in temporarily to fill in the gap...actually 2-3 guys. That's great for chasing, but it means I'm spending money, not making any, and someone else is getting my work. And if the replacements do well, I can't just disappear for three days then come back and sweep up the gravy work from them....they've earned it and it's theirs...which means I have to take the next job that comes along....regardless of how much less it pays or the difficulty of the project. So it's always a gamble, every time I consider leaving work for a chase now. And that doesn't include the chase itself...which is a whole other gamble.

What kind of job do you have?[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]

I work in the trucking industry. We remove/install decals on semi trailers, paint them, power wash them, remove adhesive (from particularly nasty decals), and do light service work. We basically take junk and make it gold, as gold as junk can be. And we're housed on a yard where a few salemem run their business....they make calls, create the deals, and when the papers are signed, we go to work. They buy junk for cheap, we make it into gold, and they re-sell it at a higher price and make a profit, substantial in most cases. So basically we make other people rich :-)

I'd like to add in closing that, while I love chasing, this season is going to be a messed up one for me because of everything I talked about above. I'm in a major transitional mode of life right now and I have to work and save money for a move....to Dallas, because of my job. Once I'm settled in, we'll go from four days a week to five, which means a 20% increase in not only work but PAY. So even though my 2007 season will suffer a bit from this, my 2008-beyond seasons will not. You might not hear my name much this year, but I ain't going anywhere. I'll be back :-)

Jeremy Ludin

03-27-2007, 09:44 AM

I have taken a few days off to chase. I don't really think that my employer would be up on the idea that I'm leaving to go hunt down a storm, but that's what "sick" time is for. I actually don't like using up any time, so sometimes I'll come in on saturdays (as much as that sucks) to make up for lost hours.

Marcus Opitz

03-27-2007, 10:10 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?1. I used to work at retail establishments before the fall of 2005. I was pretty much SOL at the time. But after Katrina hit, I was called up to work for an independent contractor as an inside adjuster for the insurance industry. I worked on a "temporary basis for over a year and a half so storm season 2006 did not happen for me.

2. I am not deployed on a storm at the moment as I was released in late Feb. At this time I am free to go whenever and wherever I want.

3. I am not going to look for another job or worry about school, ect until June/July. I may wait out the summer to see if another hurricane hits and work 6 or more months and maybe do it all over again.

4. I am an independent insurance adjuster. I have all of the 2004-2005 hurricanes and some 2006 non hurricane stuff. I worked mold, wind, and attorney represented claims. When I am working, I make and save a good enought living to be able to afford to be without work for 6 or more months at a time. I am not sure if there will be another hurricane this fall so I will have to see what happens. I am blessed that I have this spring at my disposal where in the past and likley in the future, I will have to jugle work and chasing while not causing any conflicts.

Andrew Herron

03-27-2007, 10:16 AM

1. How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2. Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3. Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4. What kind of job do you have?

1. Not too bad; I've been taking quite a bit of unannounced time to buy a condo. I'm sure if the day seemed right for my area I could get out early. My work also knows I'm heavily involved in RACES and Skywarn so that makes it even easier.
2. Pretty much. If it's a couple days on end I have to take paid time but for an early day I can just make up the hours at my leisure.
3. Yup, see #2.
4. I do web development for an affiliate marketing company.

Tony Laubach

03-27-2007, 10:18 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?I am without a doubt one of the luckier SOBs chasing...

1. Very... my employer knows exactly what it is I do and many of my supervisors as completely fascinated by my chasing. Because its work-study, I am easily able to get my shifts covered on very little notice and with little consequence from higher-ups. My pizza job was always the biggest pain, but with the change in managers, I've got the leniency there now as well as I talked to the incoming manager and explained to her my deal. Needless to say, I can be on the road with as little as a few hours notice.

2. Yes. Again, the flexibility of my schedule allows me to take off at will if need be. Again, work-study and my supervisors' interest make it pretty easy to do.

3. I don't have paid time in work-study, nor do I work enough at Pizza Hut to get vacation time, so its all unpaid.

4. I work on campus as an IT Lab Technician for the computer labs here on campus. It's a work-study job. I also work weekends driving pies in Littleton.

A side-note that its usually classes which interfere with my chasing, such as tomorrow's class in regards to tomorrow's chase. On the other side, and to show my earlier point, I pulled coverage for this afternoon here on campus this morning once my forecast and the local NWS forecast fell iinto line. Less than 8 hours notice to be gone.

Brian Stertz

03-27-2007, 01:01 PM

1,How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3.Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4.What kind of job do you have?

1) Leniency is highly dependent on how busy we are at work in the days up to heading out to chase on a wing and a prayer.
2) Within reason...if it's a big event...I am out there for sure.
3) I've got a good arsenal of vacation time saved up for May and June
when I intend to do my most vigorous chasing.
4) I am a warranty and shipping claims coordinator for a top line sauna company

Mikey Gribble

03-27-2007, 01:22 PM

1. I work at my parents company, so pretty lenient most of the time, but on some days it can get pretty ugly.

2. I can take off most anytime, I get two weeks vacation and I can take off partial days usually if I work a little extra during the rest of the week. I'm salary so hours don't really matter, but I'll catch hell from my dad if I'm under 40 hours so I prefer to work extra on weeks I chase.

3. I could take unpaid days off, but there is a loop hole in our companies employee handbook that I take full advantage of. It says that if you take off a partial day, you don't have to use a day of vacation on it, so I usually make an appearance at work in the mornings if a chase day is close to home.

4. I have had every crappy job there is at my compamy since I've worked here since I was 16, but now I am the manager of our anodizing, shipping, and QC departments.

Josh Richardson

03-27-2007, 01:57 PM

My job is very lenient in the fact I have plenty of Personal Time off I can take whenever i want and get paid for it. However, in the pension and investment world there is never a time when I am not busy so if I take a day off that just means Im that much farther behind.

Jay Cazel

03-27-2007, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by jketcham http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?p=128266#post128266)
1,How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3.Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4.What kind of job do you have?

1. I also work for the family business, so I can take time when I need to. Sometimes it can be stressful if we get busy. But I try to work things around storm season so I can chase.

2. For the most part, this year is alittle different than years past, my dad had heart bypass so I have had to run the show more but he is doing much better so I can take off anytime I need to.

3. Well my vacation time is when I need it, one nice thing to work for the family, nothing is set in stone but a day or two here and day or two there is fine.

4. What we do is run a route of coin operated games all over Metro Wichita and own some property that we manage.

Patrick Martin

03-27-2007, 02:30 PM

1. How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2. Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3. If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4. What kind of job do you have?

1. Very lenient. I have a cubicle job, but it's strictly Mon-Fri, so my weekends are mine. I'm lucky that the company is very reasonable when it comes to time off. I can ask for a half or full day with as little as 1 day notice. I have 4.5 weeks paid time off and we can use it for whatever.
2. Sort of. As long as the supervisor that reports to me is not already off, and I coordinate it with the other managers, I'm good to go. I'm also salaried, so I have the flexibility to leave an hour or 2 early without having to burn vaca time or lose pay. I generally work 7:30-4, with the occassional longer day...so being able to offset it and bolt early form time to time helps for those far eastern CO weekday setups. As long as I don't abuse it, and clear it with the boss, no problem.
3. Nope. Once we are out of vaca time, we are done.
4. I'm a manager for an insurance/financial services company in Denver.

Joel Wright

03-27-2007, 04:38 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?1. They're lenient as long as I can find someone to replace me if it's short notice.
2. Not really, only have so much vacation time. When it's gone, it's gone.
3. Nope, unless I called in sick lol. Not big on that.
4. Chemist.

Josh Richardson

03-27-2007, 06:50 PM

I guess I didnt answer all the questions full before so here goes....

Originally Posted by jketcham
1,How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
3.Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
4.What kind of job do you have?

1. No problem at all
2. Pretty much as we are allotted 40 hrs of PTO and then accrue up to 8 hrs every check as well.
3. I shouldnt ever run out of PTO or vacation time
4. Retirement and Investment Services

Rich Thompson

03-27-2007, 06:53 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?

1. Not very. There is some ability to nudge shift times, depending on my "relief". Otherwise, most chase time has to fall on days off or be scheduled months in advance.

2. Not often on short notice.

3. Not a chance!

4. Lead forecaster at SPC. We cover 24/7 with 5 forecasters on a 5 week rotation, and one must always be on duty when any severe risk is in our outlooks. I end up working a week of day shifts, evening shifts, and midnight shifts every 5 weeks, with two long weekends thrown in there. It's very interesting working at SPC, but it's a pretty lousy job to have if you like to chase all the time.

Rich T.

David Drummond

03-27-2007, 07:22 PM

It's very interesting working at SPC, but it's a pretty lousy job to have if you like to chase all the time.

Rich T.

Man Rich that has GOT to suck! Working hard forecasting like you guys do and have to watch the event unfold on radars and reports only be able to imagine what it looks like out there. Definitely not a job I could do for any long time, I would HAVE to get out in the field.

Rich Thompson

03-27-2007, 07:46 PM

Man Rich that has GOT to suck! Working hard forecasting like you guys do and have to watch the event unfold on radars and reports only be able to imagine what it looks like out there. Definitely not a job I could do for any long time, I would HAVE to get out in the field.

About half of the SPC staff has some interest in chasing, and maybe 5-6 are pretty serious. Still, those of us working the 8 hour shifts end up missing more days than we can chase. It's a little better for the mesoscale assistant forecasters on 12 hour shifts - they have more days off and longer breaks.

I wasn't hurt much by shifts in the 90s, but they've killed me in the 2000s. I worked evenings and mids through most of the big days in 2003-04. I recall chasing once on my "vacation" last year.

Rich T.

Joel Wright

03-27-2007, 11:02 PM

We rotate shifts too, every four weeks. So I can relate a little.

Our shift start times are 5am, 9am, and 5pm. The 5am shift allows for a good shot at chasing if the action isn't too far away.

jason kissam

03-27-2007, 11:45 PM

1) How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Ive already informed them of my intent to take time off and chase over the summer. This is now better that a friend in Mo wants me to go visit her in the summer :rolleyes:

2)Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
since its shift work i have to get coverage. And we were just taken over by a new company so i have to earn the time off again.

3)Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
We have a policy that is new to me at least. we can buy back vacation time to use it again or to extend a vacation upon request.

4)What kind of job do you have?
I am a security supervisior at a legal publishing firm.

Jody Radzik

03-27-2007, 11:58 PM

1.How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?

As long as I've completed what needs to be done, I'm good to go for a few days at a time.

2.Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?

Provided I have the work covered, yes.

3.If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?

Again, as long as I have my work covered.

4.What kind of job do you have?

I'm a graphic designer working as an art director for a small investment company and publishing business producing a couple of upscale quarterly hunting magazines.

Anthony Silver

03-28-2007, 02:12 AM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?Answer to question #1: My employer is not lenient by any means. We have to submit time off requests 30 days in advance (both personal/vacation), otherwise it will get rejected. On extremely rare occasions, I can ask another co-worker if he/she would be willing to cover my shift or swap days, but with the way our scheduling has been lately, it's almost impossible to do that.

Answer to question #2: Due to the nature of this work, I don't get that luxury. It would be nice though!

Answer to question #3-Nope! Not unless I can find someone to cover my shift.

Answer to question #4-Police/Fire Dispatcher

cdcollura

03-28-2007, 12:04 PM

Good day everyone,

My line of work is such (in IT) that I have chosen to take TEMP / CONTRACTING jobs where any time taken off is unpaid - But since you are paid much higher up front, the budget works out that is if I took off one week each month, I still would make more than a full time position in the same job working a full month.

The questions are answered below...

Q: How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
A: I can work a full 40 hour week or half that, as I am on a time-clock (time sheet - contractor) and not salary. As long as I get the work done, taking a few days or a week is no problem.

Q: Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
A: I can take off anytime, as long as I make sure my job duties are fulfilled.

Q: If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
A: In my case, contracting, any time off is unpaid.

Q: What kind of job do you have?
A: On-site computer programming contract for 6 months (Dayton, Ohio).

In the past, each May, I often asked for a couple of weeks off, near Memorial Day for my two week chase trips. I do NOT tell my job I am storm chasing, but make more of a "non-changeable" event such as a wedding or cruise booked with family a "year ago". I worked at a lot of places where being a "storm chaser" can be taken "wrong" by some conservative bosses / co-workers.

Now, with the fallacies and pain of having my two to three week block of time in May (especially in 2006) RIDGED OUT - I decided to attempt "spot chases" where only MAJOR SETUPS will be attempted. I found that taking a few days off at a quicker impromptu notice worked much better than asking for a less flexible two weeks. This worked great while on contract in St Louis last fall, especially for 9-16-2006 in SD.

Last May was the last straw of lengthy chase "expeditions", being solo and chasing "marginal slight risk days" at best, I was in ND one day, Ohio the next, and OK after that ... All with gas at $3.25 a gallon, and watching this huge rex-block low over the Great Lakes that took 2 weeks to move 50 miles, then a RIDGE for the next 2 weeks after the low finally got the F--- out of there. May 2006 was basically shut down after the 9th. This made me think more of chasing setups rather than long trips - saves money too, and you don't "gamble" as much.

My thoughts,

Jesse Risley

03-28-2007, 01:22 PM

Steve Mirsky

03-28-2007, 06:12 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase? Winter is our busy season, so all vacation time is from April to October. Thus it is easy for me to take off the end of May to storm chase.

Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want? No. It all depends on the weather. Go figure.

Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing? No

What kind of job do you have? Meteorologist

Steve Mirsky

03-28-2007, 07:51 PM

I worked at a lot of places where being a "storm chaser" can be taken "wrong" by some conservative bosses / co-workers.[/QUOTE]
What does this mean?

Laura Duchesne

03-28-2007, 08:27 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?

Well my boss and coworkers know I chase storms and they are fine with it. They know I won't just get up and leave work out of the blue to follow a storm because they know how dedicated I am to my job.... I had booked vacation time in the past specifically for tornado alley trips without any troubles. They actually don't care what I do on my vacation time, just as long as I make it back to work after :)

Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?

I can take vacation time whenever I want, or if I have an appointment, but the boss would prefer I not take off too often for activities... if we are down one person, the workload can pile up quickly, so that's why I only book vacation time and only take off work for a day if I really need to. I've never taken a day off for storm chasing because I felt work was a higher priority, although some days it was tempting to get off early... I am not sure what the boss would say if I were to ask for just one day off work for chasing, perhaps he might be ok with it since I barely take time off, but when we are really busy, I hate to ask.

I'll chase in the evening after work if there is anything decent to go after, plus I get weekends off. Sure I've missed some big set ups during the day while at work but I realize there is lots of time in my life to see good storms, such as taking vacation to go to tornado alley at the end of May for 2 weeks.

If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?

Yes, well the first time I did this was just this year... I went to Hawaii back in Jan/Feb for two weeks using up my paid vacation... but I also have booked time off for tornado alley and realize I won't get paid for it, and the boss seems to be okay with it. I think he allows me to go because I rarely ever take time off to begin with minus vacations, and that I am always punctual and perform well in my job.

What kind of job do you have?

I'm a graphic designer, sign maker... I design signs, business cards, flyers, etc... and I print large format signs, lay down vinyl graphics on surfaces, all that jazz.... I actually enjoy the job I do so I am not really desperate for taking off work that often :)

Joel Wright

03-28-2007, 10:22 PM

Nights like these really make me wish my work was more flexible. For those of us with less flexible work schedules, and living a ways away from the plains really hurts many excellent chase opportunities... :(

J West

03-28-2007, 10:29 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Doyou pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?

Looks like I'm in the same field as Anthony Silver, but my work conditions are 180 degrees opposite:

1.) My employer has no say about what I do with my off time each year, aside from no illegal activity :) Like others have posted, my co-workers know about my chasing and know that I will dissappear for a day or two.

2.) For the most part, yes. This year, I have in the area of 250 hours of paid leave time (not including sick leave). Within the guidelines of our union's local agreement, I can take my time off in any amount on any day. We have restrictions on how many can be on leave at one time, etc but these days rarely overlap. I can generally call my boss the morning of, or day before, and get time off. Luckily, my boss is very easy to work with in that regard.

3.) Not really, since we have so much paid leave it requires a really egregious reason to take unpaid time off.

4.) Communications for a state law enforcement agency.

Bob Hartig

03-29-2007, 09:13 AM

I'm writing after reading the reports from yesterday's Plains outbreak and viewing the pics. Man, I wish I could have been there, but...I've gotta work. That's the reality. I love where I work and I love Michigan--it's a beautiful state--but the two combined put me out of the action much of the time. There are days like yesterday when I look at the radar and just want to bang my head against the computer screen.

With that little preamble, here are my responses:

*How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?

Very lenient. It's up to me. The question for me isn't whether I can take the time off when I want to, but whether I can do so in good conscience, knowing my absence won't create a four-alarm blaze. It's a matter of responsibility. Sometimes I've stretched it. Other times, like now, I can't afford to. I'd loooooove to take a week off in early or mid May to chase, but so far that just hasn't been possible.

* If you don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?

My company gives me a month of paid vacation plus five personal days. They're pretty generous.

* What kind of job do you have?

I'm the copy manager for Zondervan, a Christian publishing house. I work extensively with freelance writers and do a lot of writing myself.

Russel Parsons

03-30-2007, 08:08 PM

How lenient is your place of employment when it comes to taking vacation time to storm chase?
Do you pretty much get to take off anytime you want?
Ifyou don’t have vacation time, can you take unpaid leave to go chasing?
What kind of job do you have?1. My place of employment also understands my great interest in chasing and spotting. I usually know that I need off of work to chase at least a couple days out.

2. My supervisors will usually let me off any time that I want, unless someone else has already taken the day off that I'm requesting.

3. I usually have enough vacation and comp time saved up for the chase season. I never plan on needing to take time off without pay.

4. I'm a police officer with Pittsburg State University, located in Pittsburg, Kansas. We have four people on each shift, and I currently work day shift. I have been lucky to have a job where my supervisors are fascinated by my chasing severe weather, and viewing the pictures when I get back to work.