WASHINGTON (AP) — Want more time off work to hang out at the beach? Need a little cash and have
vacation days to spare?Somecompanies allow their employees to buy and sell vacation time, a perkthat gives
workers more flexibility in managing their time off.Thenovel approach might help employees buy some extra
days off to take thetrip of a lifetime or spend more time with a newborn. Co-workers couldsell off unused
days to get some extra money."When times are alittle tight, this benefit really doesn’t cost a lot of
extra money toemployers to provide," said Julie Stich, research director for theInternational
Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.A soon-to-bereleased survey by the Society for Human Resource
Management found that 9percent of employers allowed workers to cash out unused vacation time.Five percent
let employees purchase additional vacation days through apayroll deduction. An additional 7 percent allowed
employees to donatevacation time to a general pool that can be used by other workers.Theapproach is even
more popular with employers that have "paid time off"or PTO plans that combine vacation time, sick
leave and personal daysinto one comprehensive plan. About 52 percent of employers reportedoffering such
plans. Of those, 19 percent offered a cash-out option and15 percent offered a donation program. One percent
give their workersunlimited time off.The cost is usually one week’s salary,prorated over the course of the
year. Employees often have to decidewhether to participate during an annual fall enrollment process and
itbecomes part of their benefits for the upcoming year.Nora Kouba,who manages company cars at construction
materials giant USG Corp. inChicago, said she used to buy an extra week off to care for her kids ortake long
summer vacations with the family. But these days, she tends tosell her excess vacation time.USG allows all
9,000 of its employees worldwide to buy or sell up to a week of vacation time each year.Aflexible vacation
policy has been in place about for about 15 years atKimberly Clark Corp., based in Irving, Texas. The
company allowsemployees to purchase up to five extra vacation days each year.Copyright 2013 The Associated
Press.