Always!
You know my first job out of college we could take our overtime as vacation holiday or cash. Actually, maybe we had to take it as vacation originally. I remember one year I took a good 2 months off. But most of the rest of the year I was working 60-80 hours. Really, overall, wouldn't recommend it.
But my current job I get 3 weeks of vacation and I squeeze it for all it's worth. I think I was in negative vacation for a while. I now have the kind of vacations where no one calls me and I don't have to check in and follow up on work. We get plenty of personal time to care of personal things too, so vacations are vacations. I actually plan to take 2 weeks spread throughout the year and use my 3rd week just for more flexibility and personal time in the summer. All very appreciated and well needed. Since I have been off on months for maternity leave, I think they will survive if I take a few days off. Nice to work a job where other people can cover for you I guess, as we all kind of share the workload. Plus it is slow in the summer, probably would be forced to go on vacation regardless.
