I started this job at the beginning of the year with a one year full time temp contract. The company offers unlimited time off (within reason) for “regularly, full time employees” so I was thrilled to join a company that offers such great work life balance. No mention of paid vacation in the notices sent by HR during the hiring process. I figure it's just an oversight and since it's unlimited, they don't need to explicitly state it.
After being hired, I attend the welcome HR presentation with other new employees, where the company is boasted as a great place to work with unlimited vacation, and we should take advantage of it. Great!
After a few months, I have a doctor's appointment during the day so I speak to my manager about using my vacation to take the day off. Nope, I'm a temp. The time off policy doesn't apply. Ok, fine, how do I see my time off bank? It doesn't exist. I don't get any vacation time, and no one told me. I do get sick time, but it's at a rate of something like 1.4 hours per week worked.
I'm full time, salaried, overtime exempt, and often work more than 40 hours in a week. It feels so frustrating and isolating seeing my coworkers enjoying benefits that I'm not entitled to (which also includes vision and dental, BTW). No one who isn't specialized HR knows the policy for temps because my position is actually very uncommon, so whenever time off comes up on conversation, I have to say “oh, I'm a temp, I get zero vacation time while you get as much as you want” which puts them in an awkward position.
I just attended an HR presentation this week for 6-month employees, in which we were told that if we haven't taken advantage of the generous time off policy, we should take time off to unwind and relax. I wanted to walk out. I feel like a second class employee.
How do I deal with the bitterness? I can't resent my coworkers for using the policy or asking me how I'm using my benefits (that don't exist).
I also think I shouldn't technically be overtime exempt, but I think that's another rant.