If youre creating vacation blackout, therules should apply to everyone equally. How to Introduce Employee Wellness Benefits. For full-time employees, vacation accrues as follows: 1. For rows 2-6 select columns C to AI and merge 7. A holiday memo will inform them of this matter as well. Vacations; Leave The Employee shall be entitled to annual paid vacation in accordance with the policies established by the Board of Directors for executive employees and to voluntary leave of absence, with or without pay, from time to time at such times and upon such conditions as the Board of Directors may determine in its discretion. (1) Vacation time allotted by some (senority, points, rotation for bottleneck weeks) system one quarter in advance. "But a whole 2 months is just proof that they're unable to plan at all," they wrote. Administrative Leave may be used for the following purposes and should be granted in the following order of priority where there are conflicts between employee requests. If you are going to ask for a vacation, it must be given to the company no less than 3 days prior to your target date. (the "Blackout Dates"). Here are a few solutions for managing staff holidays and employee time off requests: Regardless of which method you implore, it is always wise to leave yourself and your managerial staff some breathing room should you need to call a sudden audible. In those retirement systems which did not treat vacation buyback programs as regular compensation and did not accept contributions or deductions on the same as of May 1, 2018, these payments will never be considered . You can politely request an exception, but as a newcomer, dont expect it. Yes. If you're just starting to plan, are in the middle of packing, or just came back from your trip . Alleged Apple vacation blackout could suggest iPhone keynote in September Christian Zibreg Updated October 17, 2018 Apple is reportedly canceling vacations for retail specialists between September 17 and November 4, according to a leaked memo sent to AppleCare Advisors and Leaders which was shared on Twitter this morning by prolific . Unused vacation will be paid to an employee that terminates An employee approved for Long Term Disability (LTD) may request a payout of unused vacation. The Neillsville City Council discussed a Letter of Agreement regarding vacation blackout for Neillsvilles Police Officers. What was the hardest stretch of work you ever had to complete, or who was the worst boss you ever had? You can base this system on a first come, first serve basis. At minimum, the company suggests, any policy should include: Who is eligible for PTO. .Rd5g7JmL4Fdk-aZi1-U_V{transition:all .1s linear 0s}._2TMXtA984ePtHXMkOpHNQm{font-size:16px;font-weight:500;line-height:20px;margin-bottom:4px}.CneW1mCG4WJXxJbZl5tzH{border-top:1px solid var(--newRedditTheme-line);margin-top:16px;padding-top:16px}._11ARF4IQO4h3HeKPpPg0xb{transition:all .1s linear 0s;display:none;fill:var(--newCommunityTheme-button);height:16px;width:16px;vertical-align:middle;margin-bottom:2px;margin-left:4px;cursor:pointer}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:hover ._11ARF4IQO4h3HeKPpPg0xb{display:inline-block}._2IvhQwkgv_7K0Q3R0695Cs{border-radius:4px;border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-line)}._2IvhQwkgv_7K0Q3R0695Cs:focus{outline:none}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B{transition:all .1s linear 0s;border-radius:4px;border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-line)}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:focus{outline:none}._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B.IeceazVNz_gGZfKXub0ak,._1I3N-uBrbZH-ywcmCnwv_B:hover{border:1px solid var(--newCommunityTheme-button)}._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk._35hmSCjPO8OEezK36eUXpk{margin-top:25px;left:-9px}._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP,._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP:focus-within,._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP._3aEIeAgUy9VfJyRPljMNJP:hover{transition:all .1s linear 0s;border:none;padding:8px 8px 0}._25yWxLGH4C6j26OKFx8kD5{display:inline}._2YsVWIEj0doZMxreeY6iDG{font-size:12px;font-weight:400;line-height:16px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText);display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;padding:4px 6px}._1hFCAcL4_gkyWN0KM96zgg{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-button);margin-right:8px;margin-left:auto;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-errorText)}._1hFCAcL4_gkyWN0KM96zgg,._1dF0IdghIrnqkJiUxfswxd{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;line-height:16px;cursor:pointer;-ms-flex-item-align:end;align-self:flex-end;-webkit-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none}._1dF0IdghIrnqkJiUxfswxd{color:var(--newCommunityTheme-button)}._3VGrhUu842I3acqBMCoSAq{font-weight:700;color:#ff4500;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:4px}._3VGrhUu842I3acqBMCoSAq,.edyFgPHILhf5OLH2vk-tk{font-size:12px;line-height:16px}.edyFgPHILhf5OLH2vk-tk{font-weight:400;-ms-flex-preferred-size:100%;flex-basis:100%;margin-bottom:4px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText)}._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX{margin-top:6px}._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._19lMIGqzfTPVY3ssqTiZSX._3MAHaXXXXi9Xrmc_oMPTdP{margin-top:4px} "While the blackout rules should be applied in a fair manner, in some instances, making reasonable accommodations for employees who have an urgent need for leave may be appropriate," the organization said. (Vacation for April 1-June 30 based on the system and requests by Dec 31.) Select Save and Close. Paid time off can be considered equivalent to vacation time, but employees can use it any way they want. Employers and employees must follow established policy unless and until that policy is changed. PTO days can range from 3 to 30 days off per year. You will need to be prepared to make these calls should it come down to this. Employees must be made aware of the employer's policy. In its most general sense, a blackout period is a period of time during which certain people are either prohibited, or limited, from engaging in a certain activity. Subject: This can be very simple, just type RE: Vacation Request, or Requesting Leave of Absence. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. Biggie Suicidal Thoughts Sample, Submit your questions here here. A formal PTO policy sets parameters and explains rules for employees taking PTO upfront. Montpetit Crime Family, It shows a lack of respect for employees. ._2cHgYGbfV9EZMSThqLt2tx{margin-bottom:16px;border-radius:4px}._3Q7WCNdCi77r0_CKPoDSFY{width:75%;height:24px}._2wgLWvNKnhoJX3DUVT_3F-,._3Q7WCNdCi77r0_CKPoDSFY{background:var(--newCommunityTheme-field);background-size:200%;margin-bottom:16px;border-radius:4px}._2wgLWvNKnhoJX3DUVT_3F-{width:100%;height:46px} !P9eSN7uW&Qt,P7g*)'kplP(o`zq,S^2zqbWb{ )Lr}i,Tck+7AFL}B!v?V L1/r|ilG0hO%Q2Fz_aSt$X5fTZ3p Etihad Extra Baggage Charges For International Flights, Employee calls in sick when PTO request is denied. I just started working at a new company and employees recently received a memo that taking vacation time is Particularly discuss the terms and conditions of using vacation leaves. While this approach may seem especially generous, these policies can increase work trust and performance, avoid an end-of-year rush, and save your organization time, energy, and money in the long run. Establish a paid time off (PTO) policy in writing. vacation blackout period policy sample vacation blackout period policy sample. There are a few ways you can go about dealing with blackout days. Follow these eight tips to confidently request time off, give your brain a vacation, and avoid the potential of a harsh rejection: 1. Please see statement from Local 241 regarding forced use of vacation . Often, PTO policies combine vacation, sick, and personal days. The correct format is to use the name of the individual who is responsible for approving your request: Dear Mr. Matthews: 4. It will list all professional development days and all vacation blackout days which will be defined as the first two weeks of school, the day before and the day after holidays, and the last week of school. However, I would explain to your manager that you were not aware of this practice when you. Krunal would go on to claim 3 wickets, including Pollard's in the last over to play a pivotal part in handing Lucknow a 36-run victory against a struggling Mumbai. Viewpoint: Minimize Vacation Scheduling Conflicts in the Pandemic No company wants to encounter understaffing issues or have key employees missing in action during a time when their contributions. Next to Reminder, select None. 1. o Requesting 1-2 weeks vacation Submit a minimum of four (4) weeks in advance o Requesting less than one (1) week vacation Submit one (1) week advance notice for each day requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Companys general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control. Adjust cell width as needed. Consider including the following elements: Your name, title and contact information. I have like 89 write ups and no one turns a head, sure you will loose respect but its staples who cares.. ndain75 8 yr. ago % R-Qd#9DeB-F+:J?@*6'*#SVs9G#|h)<8`v;:QktODY,y{;T~OYhH$ WaP$eV#7$wX|6 tlC E2)2LwzVPqc+jpL[%p#4HN6Yy/FB\$+ArF:KFc*>M\F/6a7L#K$X`XZ2FRz|~fxeh |yI~x_QwhZ"P`:}CH MB3t-&-SYb&/c/P\p 2 0 obj Amount of Vacation After Year One We recognize that our vacation policy is unorthodox. ._1x9diBHPBP-hL1JiwUwJ5J{font-size:14px;font-weight:500;line-height:18px;color:#ff585b;padding-left:3px;padding-right:24px}._2B0OHMLKb9TXNdd9g5Ere-,._1xKxnscCn2PjBiXhorZef4{height:16px;padding-right:4px;vertical-align:top}.icon._1LLqoNXrOsaIkMtOuTBmO5{height:20px;vertical-align:middle;padding-right:8px}.QB2Yrr8uihZVRhvwrKuMS{height:18px;padding-right:8px;vertical-align:top}._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0{font-size:14px;font-weight:500;line-height:18px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)}._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._1LLqoNXrOsaIkMtOuTBmO5,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._2B0OHMLKb9TXNdd9g5Ere-,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 ._1xKxnscCn2PjBiXhorZef4,._3w_KK8BUvCMkCPWZVsZQn0 .QB2Yrr8uihZVRhvwrKuMS{fill:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)} ._1LHxa-yaHJwrPK8kuyv_Y4{width:100%}._1LHxa-yaHJwrPK8kuyv_Y4:hover ._31L3r0EWsU0weoMZvEJcUA{display:none}._1LHxa-yaHJwrPK8kuyv_Y4 ._31L3r0EWsU0weoMZvEJcUA,._1LHxa-yaHJwrPK8kuyv_Y4:hover ._11Zy7Yp4S1ZArNqhUQ0jZW{display:block}._1LHxa-yaHJwrPK8kuyv_Y4 ._11Zy7Yp4S1ZArNqhUQ0jZW{display:none} While this is true, there has to be a middle ground that allows workers to take time off. %:~H'}~ =?7z};==A|8 Y|NO^]@zi.'\2b48~$7X}C'~==b?v_OOcDgli6\r6?Ofb9~ZVRza|slkzZ jDDz2,csaD?7sDwr6N6A$!O In the end, a certain degree of vacation conflict is unavoidable, especially if you stay open during the holidays. with TrackSmart Today! Thank you for the reply, Febtober. My Money. ._3-SW6hQX6gXK9G4FM74obr{display:inline-block;vertical-align:text-bottom;width:16px;height:16px;font-size:16px;line-height:16px} A paid time-off policy is a combination of days off that an employee can take while still getting paid. Well, at least I know now. It sounds like this restriction was a surprise to you. ._1QwShihKKlyRXyQSlqYaWW{height:16px;width:16px;vertical-align:bottom}._2X6EB3ZhEeXCh1eIVA64XM{margin-left:3px}._1jNPl3YUk6zbpLWdjaJT1r{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;border-radius:2px;display:inline-block;margin-right:5px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;vertical-align:text-bottom;white-space:pre;word-break:normal;padding:0 4px}._1jNPl3YUk6zbpLWdjaJT1r._39BEcWjOlYi1QGcJil6-yl{padding:0}._2hSecp_zkPm_s5ddV2htoj{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;border-radius:2px;display:inline-block;margin-right:5px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;vertical-align:text-bottom;white-space:pre;word-break:normal;margin-left:0;padding:0 4px}._2hSecp_zkPm_s5ddV2htoj._39BEcWjOlYi1QGcJil6-yl{padding:0}._1wzhGvvafQFOWAyA157okr{font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:16px;border-radius:2px;margin-right:5px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;vertical-align:text-bottom;white-space:pre;word-break:normal;box-sizing:border-box;line-height:14px;padding:0 4px}._3BPVpMSn5b1vb1yTQuqCRH,._1wzhGvvafQFOWAyA157okr{display:inline-block;height:16px}._3BPVpMSn5b1vb1yTQuqCRH{background-color:var(--newRedditTheme-body);border-radius:50%;margin-left:5px;text-align:center;width:16px}._2cvySYWkqJfynvXFOpNc5L{height:10px;width:10px}.aJrgrewN9C8x1Fusdx4hh{padding:2px 8px}._1wj6zoMi6hRP5YhJ8nXWXE{font-size:14px;padding:7px 12px}._2VqfzH0dZ9dIl3XWNxs42y{border-radius:20px}._2VqfzH0dZ9dIl3XWNxs42y:hover{opacity:.85}._2VqfzH0dZ9dIl3XWNxs42y:active{transform:scale(.95)} Many small and mid-sized employers experience staffing strain at the end of the year as employees take off work at the same time. 2. If your business fall Template: 2. queen elizabeth hospital grande prairie lab hours Report. That means educating managers so they dont impose it on one individual in a department while letting it slide for another. Is Misty Copeland Still Dancing 2021, Example: 10 days are accrued per year, on a monthly schedule, up to a positive limit of 20 days. Subscribe now fortime and attendance tools and tips. More money! vacation blackout memo. <>>> 2. Let's say it again: work-life balance is important. That means educating managers so they dont impose it on one individual in a department while letting it slide for another. The screenshot showed a message that said the time between. endobj If this is the case it would be best to create a strategy to effectively limit PTO usage as opposed to cutting it out entirely. feeling good david burns exercises; airbnb sarasota downtown; 2022.06.16. vacation blackout memo The employee in Stevens applied in January to take annual leave during the employers Easter block out period, over 12 weeks before the leave was due to commence. Vacation blackouts are a block of dates during which employees cannot schedule time off due to an expected increase in traffic (i.e., during the holidays) or special event (i.e., the iPhone rollout), and are common in retail and other industries that thrive on seasonal volume. Paid Time Off (PTO) Leave of Absence (LOA) Disability. It indicates the ability to send an email. Contents: Working hours. Your companys black out practice is legal. Page Content. Employers can mandate when employees use vacation time. The post, which was shared by u/moshpitb**ch on Tuesday, has received more than 13,000 votes and showed the alleged email that informed employees when they would not be able to take time off from work. The vacation blackout should not interfere with collective bargaining agreements with union members or any state or local laws. Vacation Blackout Periods: As previously mentioned, blackout days are often essential to certain industries. My Money. Thank you, DPM. If you have any questions concerning this notice, you should contact [enter name, address and Brief Out of Office Message. This description appears on employee schedules to let them know why the dates are blacked out. The Division recommends that employers develop their vacation policy in consultation with legal . . by. Practically speaking, block out periods are an entirely lawful and often necessary practice in the retail industry. "DGqdf4Br`qS vl#rBSF>-2mgy Well, at least I know now. Practically speaking, block out periods are an entirely lawful and often necessary practice in the retail industry. When it comes to lower-paying jobs like retail and restaurant work, it makes total sense that there's a worker shortage. Employees need to be reminded of their benefits and incentives as well. If promised, vacation must be granted. A EMPRESA; PRODUTOS; LABORATRIO; BLOG; CONTATO; A EMPRESA; PRODUTOS; LABORATRIO; BLOG; CONTATO The fixed holidays are: 2. for long-term vacation you might choose V, and select a color. Most employers enact a Use-It-or-Lose-It PTO policy to limit their own liability. Employee Benefits Management. Vacation blackouts are a block of dates during which employees cannot schedule time off due to an expected increase in traffic (i.e., during the holidays) or special event (i.e., the iPhone rollout), and are common in retail and other industries that thrive on seasonal volume. One Year's Vacation Accrual Vacation credits earned over the last 12 months. Blackout periods should be reasonable and accommodating for employees who may need time off for personal reasons. Share the best GIFs now >>> Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. Employee calls in sick when PTO request is denied. The Blackout Dates set forth in Attachment C are, and the Blackout Dates for calendar 1997 and thereafter shall be, the blackout dates established for the AAdvantage Too bad! Therefore, employers have significant discretion in developing vacation and personal leave policies that best fit the needs of their workplace and employees. ._1aTW4bdYQHgSZJe7BF2-XV{display:-ms-grid;display:grid;-ms-grid-columns:auto auto 42px;grid-template-columns:auto auto 42px;column-gap:12px}._3b9utyKN3e_kzVZ5ngPqAu,._21RLQh5PvUhC6vOKoFeHUP{font-size:16px;font-weight:500;line-height:20px}._21RLQh5PvUhC6vOKoFeHUP:before{content:"";margin-right:4px;color:#46d160}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK,._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{display:inline-block;word-break:break-word}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK{font-weight:500}._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK,._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{font-size:12px;line-height:16px}._244EzVTQLL3kMNnB03VmxK{font-weight:400;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-metaText)}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO{-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-top:13px;margin-bottom:2px}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO ._22W-auD0n8kTKDVe0vWuyK{font-size:12px;font-weight:400;line-height:16px;margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;color:var(--newCommunityTheme-actionIcon)}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y{border-radius:4px;box-sizing:border-box;height:21px;width:21px}._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y:nth-child(2),._2xkErp6B3LSS13jtzdNJzO .je4sRPuSI6UPjZt_xGz8y:nth-child(3){margin-left:-9px} A memo is obviously one of those important documents that you have to prepare from time to time for the business. Vacation "Blackout" Period just created by my company. Press J to jump to the feed. Vacation blackouts are a block of dates during which employees cannot schedule time off due to an expected increase in traffic (i.e., during the holidays) or special event (i.e., the iPhone rollout), and are common in retail and other industries that thrive on seasonal volume. I wonder what would happen if this person did, in fact, tell their supervisor that they were tired. However, I would explain to your manager that you were not aware of this practice when you. A few of the useful tips that you can use when making the vacation policy of your company include the following: 1. An employer may establish a vacation policy in writing or by custom and practice. My Time. SICK LEAVE WITH PAY Sick leave with pay for employees shall be determined in the following manner: Company Policies and Benefits The employment relationship between the parties shall also be subject to the Companys personnel policies and procedures as they may be interpreted, adopted, revised or deleted from time to time in the Companys sole discretion. 7031 Koll Center Pkwy, Pleasanton, CA 94566. master:2022-04-26_10-46-26. Executive will be eligible to participate on the same basis as similarly situated employees in the Companys benefit plans in effect from time to time during his employment. Be specific with the number of vacation leaves that your employees can use per operational year. So, my company (based and operated in Wisconsin, USA) just issued a memo stating that employees are not allowed to request vacation between November 15 and December 31 due to it being the Holiday shopping season (we deal with consumer goods). [4] Since schoolchildren were a prime target of the Zodiac, the Zodiac-style markings on the ransom note is another clue to his participation in the hijacking of the Chowchilla bus. The initial tweet led to an interesting discussion, with many posters pointing out that this is kind of how retail works. What's a vacation blackout? Will Miranne any blackout period in order to provide you with sufficient time to consider the effect of the blackout period on your retirement and financial plans. contract language; "Employees who earn 20 or 26 days annual leave per. endobj According to the Chicago Tribune, Maestro Health - a company which administers other companies' self-funded health plans - has seen employees take 25%-30% fewer vacation days this year compared with "normal years." CEO Craig Maloney said "what we want to do is communicate with teammates and urge them to take time off to de-stress and decompress. How to handle holiday vacation requests: 7 tips 1. This policy is based on mutual trust between employer and employee. Time off memo UNPAID TIME OFF We believe that it is important to take the necessary time off to support a life/ work balance; while maintaining a successful career at Dosha. "I can't imagine the whole two months getting blocked off! Create a fair vacation policy by utilizing our professionally-made Vacation Policy template to establish clear rules . It all started off with this tweet, from a workplace that doesn't want to give anybody time off, or even entertain time off requests, for over a month of the year. A Reddit user said they'd understand a week or two week-long vacation blackout period but pushed back against the one outlined in the post. Salutation: This is the greeting. Institute a vacation blackout period. Show What's Off Limits. It all started off with this tweet, from a workplace that doesn't want to give anybody time off, or even entertain time off requests, for over a month of the year. Blackout dates are often a necessary part of managing a PTO policy. In many states, there are no laws requiring employers to give any kind of paid time off (with special exceptions, such as military duty). Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), Why should I have to pay more to commute?: Readers say state should steer clear of congestion pricing, All the new movies and TV shows streaming this month. PTO is often accrued over each pay period but may . Yes. For small teams, providing PTO while maintaining an effective workforce is a big challengeespecially around the holidays. The screenshot showed a message that said the time between November 1 and January 2 is a "vacation blackout period." "No time off requests will be accepted or approved during this time," the email . If youre going to create a vacation blackout, the. 3 0 obj Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. In past jobs, I have taken the week off between Christmas and New Years to visit family out of state. At the end of the first year of service, one week, or 40 hours, of vacation. Vacation leave varies according to years of service of an employee or depending on the companys policy. Rice Creek Elementary School Calendar, Some exceptions to the rule that the SHRM outlined included a need to travel for medical or bereavement purposes. The company's goal is to reduce unscheduled absences and the need for supervisory oversight. The process of preparing a memo from time to time is always a tiring one, of course, you have to do it from scratch each time you are coming up with a new one. No-Time-Off-for-You---Handling-Vacation-Blackouts, No Time Off for You - Handling Employee Vacation Blackouts, 7 Tips to make employee vacation scheduling easier. A holiday memo is a type of document that indicates holidays scheduled for certain dates. Friday, May 26, 2017 10:51 am Friday, May 26, . The description can be up to 256 characters, including spaces and punctuation. There may be times where, should you accept PTO requests, you will be short staffed and ill equipped for the work day. Notice of Upcoming "Blackout" Period for Trading Acuity Brands Stock - May 8 through May 14, 2008 Attached is a communication provided to participants in the Company's 401(k) plans notifying them of an upcoming short "blackout" period related to the migration to Merrill Lynch's enhanced recordkeeping system. Your company's "black out" practice is legal. Offer Extra Pay During Popular Vacation Times. We have created this guideline to support this belief. reduce their Vacation/Annual Leave balance below the cap. Could a vacation blackout in early Ocotber mean the iPhone is coming to Sprint? This had some people hitting the Web to ask, is that even legal? (and more so, will the service be better than AT&T? but lets not get outside the scope of our intent). Too bad! Is this really an enforceable rule they can enact? A valuable lesson is to mention a planned vacation before accepting an offer. Several weeks of vacation is standard in much of the rest of the world.