How to Get on the Road to More Vacation Time

By Chip Cutter, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Many employees who aren't getting raises because of the recession are resorting to bargaining with their bosses: How about more vacation time instead?

Asking for a few extra days off may sound simple, but career consultants say it's not always an easy request for an employer to grant, given the bare-bones staffing at many companies. After multiple rounds of layoffs, furloughs and cutbacks, employers may be unwilling to part with any remaining workers, even for just a few days.

Still, there's hope. With the right strategy, employees can eke out some additional time for a weekend getaway or just a day away from the cubicle.

Here are some tips for increasing your vacation time:

Hone your pitch

Simply demanding extra vacation days or making ultimatums probably won't get you far. Instead, take a positive but direct tone and think about some specific reasons to back up your argument, suggests Ronald M. Katz, president of Penguin Human Resource Consulting.

Be ready to explain how you've earned the extra time off, and come armed with descriptions of recent projects you've completed or extra assignments you've taken on. If you've spent the past few years working overtime or traveling on weekends, bring that up as well to show you've put in your time for the company.

If possible, let your boss know how the company has profited from your efforts.

"You need to make your case with numbers," Katz said. "The language of business is numbers and those numbers are preceded by dollar signs."

And, like any sales pitch, think ahead to counter any potential objections your boss may bring up. Roy J. Lewicki, a professor of management and human resources at Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business, said it helps to show you've thought of all of the issues that could arise in your absence.