Is it normal for employers do this when granting vacation days?

Question

My employer's vacation policy "All employees are to receive 1 week paid vacation after 2 years of service and 2 weeks after 5 years. Paid vacation time is added annually during the pay period of your hire date. All time must be used by the end of the current calendar year as it is a use it or lose it policy."

My position is receptionist and have been employed here for 3 years. According to that policy I'm supposed to get 1 week very year, until my 5th year, when I get 2 weeks. I was hired at the end of July so the pay stub that lists my vacation time was received last week. This pay stub shows "0 hours paid vacation". I contacted payroll about it. I was told that the "receptionist" title entitles me to only 1 week paid vacation every 2 years. It does not say anything about this sort of thing in the policy manual.

I found out later from another receptionist (also hired 3 years ago) in a different department that she has been getting 2 weeks every single year since the day she was hired.

Is there anything I can do that won't cause my employer to fire me?

Is it normal for an employer to give fewer vacation days to someone in a low level position?

Why would they give the other receptionist more vacation time than permitted by policy?

btw...I live in a small town and noone is hiring, not even McD's so quitting isn't an option.

Answer 1

Reread your employee handbook first, just to make sure you didn't miss anything.  Sometimes the wording in those manuals can be manipulating.  If it confirms exactly what you are assuming, contact your Human Resources dept. to see if there was a mistake on your paycheck in regard to your vacation time.  If there was no mistake, let them know what you were told about vacation time when you hired and see if any changes can be made.  I wouldn't suggest you mentioning the other receptionist's vacation time, things could have been different when she was hired or maybe she and the company had some sort of agreement.  

It could just be a mix up with your vacation hours.

Answer 2

I think you're nothing more than a troublemaker who deserves to be fired. The fact that this other receptionist is in another dept tells me that you went out of your way to get the info and speaks volumes about your lack of professionalism. The vacation days each employee gets is none of your business. I hope your employer finds out and terminates your employment.

Answering those questions:

1) You already did something to cause termination....snooping around another employee's information.

2) Yes, my employer does it.

3) She is probably better looking, works harder, and isn't a whiner like you.

Answer 3

contact human resources if different from payroll dept. explain that you can't find that policy documented in the employee handbook and ask to be shown where it is so you can read and understand it. also ask when the policy was put in place. if they are unwilling to help (give you an attitude) go above them and ask the same questions...do this calmly and politely so you don't offend anyone