Whoever is making these types of decisions for your company must be on a mental vacation, since this type of inequitable treatment is a guaranteed source of dissatisfaction. This does not mean that all employees must have the exact same benefits, since there can be differences based on position, seniority, and employee choices.
However, when companies start making "side deals" with new hires, one message they send to employees in comparable positions is, "Too bad for you." A second message is that if one policy can be ignored, all of the policies are up for grabs. These inequitable benefits also undercut teamwork, demonstrate the arbitrary nature of management, and even expose the company to claims based on unfair treatment if employees from various protected classes happen to be the ones who are not given the extra week of vacation.
At this point, you and some of your fellow employees should meet with your manager to discuss your concerns. Let your manager know that you would like to see this benefit corrected. Your manager will probably tell you that he or she will look into the matter. The company's ultimate reaction will be revealing on many levels. If the company sticks with its "too bad for your" philosophy, just remember that the word, "vacation," is closely related to the word, "vacate."
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