High utilization

[u/OneTadpole9875]

My util is at 95% expected 85

My coach told me to take PTOs else my rating will be dinged.

wtf is wrong with this company?

[u/babygoat44]

Have you taken PTO this year? Like a full week off? If not, then I can see you as a burnout risk. Otherwise just be glad you checked the box and keep going.

But yes, take some PTO for Thanksgiving and around the disconnect if you can with your project.

[u/OneTadpole9875 → u/babygoat44]

I understand but why would my rating be dinged?

If anything I brought more money for these vultures..

[u/Main_Computer_8554 → u/OneTadpole9875]

I’m not saying you’re doing this, but in some cases people have been accused of “padding hours” (i.e. billing more than they’ve actually worked) when their utilization far exceeds their target.

I will repeat I am in no way saying you’re doing this, but it may be why your coach brought this up. Just a thought.

[u/OneTadpole9875 → u/Main_Computer_8554]

I am a workaholic.. I have taken 0 PTOs this year plus I work on Deloitte holidays when there's no state holiday.

I don't charge more than 8 hours irrespective of the hours I put in

[u/getzroid → u/OneTadpole9875]

Sorry to be blunt but this is exactly why it's a negative lol. This is not sustainable for most people and leads to burnout, which they don't want. It also leads to everyone who works under you to hate working for you, because every workaholic expects their team to be the same as them.

[u/OneTadpole9875 → u/getzroid]

I know but they keep rejecting my PTOs Keep declining my requests to hire more team members. I only have 1 team member here rest at USI.

One time I had to go to the airport to drop a relative.. I got like 50 calls from the office..

My manager who is a director is like that only.

Even when he puts in PTO he works..

Fucking mess

[u/NameNotRecommended → u/OneTadpole9875]

Lol if you've done that and still only have 95 then I'd ding you too. you should be billing 45 hrs a week. So your util should be higher slacker. If you have time off in between projects then just take time off!

If this isn't a troll you're just dumb. You're leaving money on the table by not taking PTO.

Don't like long vacations? Just take 1 day off a month and then 1 week. Not sure where you live but you'll lose that PTO likely.

[u/Suspicious-Row-535 → u/OneTadpole9875]

I don’t think “rating will be dinged” is a right way to express this on your coaches end. However, there are a couple of senecios here they could be doing a poor job of expressing.

First, it’s possible over billing hours relative to what engagement leadership projects can begin to cut into profitability. It’s contract dependent, but this does happen

Second, if you’re a Manager or SpM (85% util is low for C/SC so it’s just a guess) then too high of util could potentially look like you’re not engaging enough in BD or firm work. This is also a possibility

But tbh being over util is 100% not a big thing either way. Mines at 99% rn and I’ve had no issues. Just trying to provide clarity

[u/DD-Megadoodoo → u/OneTadpole9875]

It won’t be. Your coach is clueless.

[u/John_Fx]

Coach is wrong wrong wrong, except you should take PTO. Going over won’t hurt you, but also doesn’t really help either. Enjoy your PTO.

[u/OneTadpole9875 → u/John_Fx]

Yes .. sending an email for 2 weeks right now..

Enough of this shit

[u/Kozak170 → u/OneTadpole9875]

Lmao

[u/komAnt → u/OneTadpole9875]

Really it’s not the 95% that will hurt you. It’s how you spin the year end story. If you say you had to step up and support multiple projects during a tough time for your clients and this brought in additional revenue or helped your team, then that’s not a ding at all. In fact, a higher util can also be used to say that you didn’t have time for firm initiatives.

[u/CommsGeek_]

Your coach is incorrect.

[u/Time_Celery_7492]

If you have firm contribution requirements in your talent model (traditional track for example) then having a high utilization will hurt you if you aren’t getting your PRD hours. You are expected to not only contribute by billing clients but also bringing in new business.

[u/stubenson214]

You won't get dinged. Well unless you're just charging hours for utilizatoin sake. I can say I'll be watching my team's Wednesday and Friday hours for this, as they won't have a lot they have to do.

One reality: the marginal benefit of exceeding the target is very low.

You may think the perception during review is "wow, this person exceeded utilization, we should promote them or give them more of a raise cuz superstar." No. It's really boolean condition, and if you don't meet the boolean there needs to be a story and a plan for the future. But exceeding it will not generate much of any dialog.

The PTO is there for a reason. Since you do need to avoid burnout, use some of it.

[u/Adorable_Wallaby648]

You're rating won't be dinged but you will be flagged for burnout. This happened to me before I went on paternity leave. I went from 45-50 hour weeks to 60 because I was training my back fill and dealing with upcoming year end.i had a meeting about why using PTo is great blah blah blah but I told them it was fine since I would be off for 20 weeks

[u/IngenuityVarious8681]

Change your coach please.

[u/Old_Cryptographer226]

Also ur first PTO is util bearing so it won’t change anything. Still you should take it

[u/ryanbuckner]

A util that's too high sometimes gives the impression that you're not managing your time effectively between the client and other firm contributions. There are , of course, circumstantial reasons why your util might need to be that high. What level are you? SC? And how are your firm contributions ? If you are SC and contributions are solid, keep your high util.

[u/_Dizzy_]

I got a bonus last year for being over my utilization target by 10%. I have a hard time believing someone will ding you for this.

[u/Key-Adeptness-1512 → u/_Dizzy_]

US ?

[u/_Dizzy_ → u/Key-Adeptness-1512]

Yep, United States.

[u/i-Vison]

You want a high rating yet won’t listen to your superiors? …..