Is unspent vacation time a good argument in pay negotiations?

Question

In job interviews, discussing vacation time (PTO) is not too clever: it signals you are thinking about time not spent for the company. Does this consequently make it an excellent topic discussing during pay negotiation later on?

In a meeting this Friday, I will list the reasons for which I deserve senior perks & pay grade. My boss will¹ downplay any number of my arguments & fulfill my demands to a lesser extent. I might have to make this an in-or-out situation, making clear that I really mean it.

Adding to how much value I provide for the company.. I could also remind him of how unfavorable my resignation would be, considering (among other reasons) my impressive² number of unspent paid vacation days. Either pointing out the size of my potential last pay check.. or just casually mentioning that I feel like requesting a looong vacation soon.

_{1 I expect this because last time I wanted a substantial pay rise, he said "OK" and that was it, no meeting.}

^{2 not uncommon in Germany; voluntary; pay stub confirms the number; unspent days carry over to next year & do not expire automatically}

Answer 1

Is unspent vacation time a good argument in pay negotiations?

No.

The company has already given you those days. The fact that you have not yet used them is irrelevant. From the company's standpoint, any value that those vacation days provide is already in your possession to either use or cash out if you leave the company. Your boss will surely be aware of this, making this a poor argument for a salary/benefits increase.

Focus on the value you add to the company instead of attempting to indirectly threaten the company.

Answer 2

This could backfire in many ways:

• It may signal that you may be a workaholic - someone who works so hard for so long that they get burned out. Companies allot time off because they know employees perform better when they use it.
• It may signal that you are not very good at managing your own schedule and resources.
• The "threat" of having to pay a handful of PTO days is insubstantial compared to the overall cost of turning over a position, and it's not even the tiniest of drops in the bucket compared to the cost of an employment lawsuit. In other words, it's not going to significantly change the cost of you leaving, and if you're trying to threaten, it's not exactly a significant thing to threaten with.
• Threatening a long vacation would be counterproductive as well - basically, you're implying that you're going to go away without bothering to help transition or backfill your position, which does nothing but make you look unhelpful and selfish - not the attitude you want to portray when you're asking for more money.

The best technique when asking for a raise is to make it about the value you bring to your employer because of your skills and abilities. You want to make yourself look valuable. Threats don't add value. Not taking PTO doesn't add value (as pointed out in a comment elsewhere, the employer has essentially already paid for your PTO in terms of their book keeping).

If you're going to ask for a raise, be ready to demonstrate the value you bring to the company. Be able to show how that value has increased since your last raise. Portray yourself as a dependable employee. Don't threaten or try to hold your boss captive.

Answer 3

All other issues aside, this would be a very foolish argument.

Depending on your contract, when you leave, you may be able to get your days "cashed out" at your current rate. This means that if you have $30k of leave currently, and you get a 10% raise, that $30k becomes $33k. Which means immediately, the company's liability increases. So, basically you're asking for a free $3k upfront, and then using it as a negotiating tactic.