Unlimited PTO?

Anonymous

November 23,2022 at 6:52PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

Unlimited PTO? Thoughts? I cry bull hockey. From what I see of my team, most people aren’t taking as much vacation as they were entitled to under our previous accrual system.

Of course they won’t be able to bank unused time as they had under the accrual system.

At the end of the day it’s just a way for companies to not have the liability of unused time on the books.

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

15 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

15 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousNovember 23,2022 at 7:06PM UTC
That seems to be the common issue with unlimited PTO...people aren't using it. It's a combination of things: almost like people are afraid to use it, feel like it makes them look bad, companies aren't managing it properly, etc. I mean, really, there are benefits to it. Companies don't have to track PTO, don't have to pay out upon termination, the people that have in the past been in the negative no longer an issue, everyone is on the same page. But unfortunately, it's on the employer to really understand it and employee it to everyone's benefit, for it to truly work for everyone. And no one seems to really be managing it correctly.
AnonymousNovember 23,2022 at 7:47PM UTC
It is a SCAM! I took a job based on offering unlimited PTO only to learn that I will never have time to take off. Even worse - After two months into the job, my supervisor “suggests”, that I use Thanksgiving holiday to work from home and “catch up” on projects- on Thanksgiving! I think the workplace is full of jobs making empty work/life balance promises and remote opportunities that intrude on having a personal life!
AnonymousNovember 23,2022 at 8:34PM UTC
It depends on the company. I have unlimited PTO and will likely use 3-4 weeks without any issue. As long as my client isn’t complaining I don’t see my company having an issue with my time off. My husband had it at a previous company and also had no issue taking 3+ weeks off.
AnonymousNovember 23,2022 at 8:41PM UTC
I interviewed and received an offer for a company that offered unlimited PTO. There was a weekly performance goal though so it didn't make sense to me to accept the position as knowing myself, I wouldn't take the PTO.
AnonymousNovember 23,2022 at 9:35PM UTC
Unlimited PTO is code for can’t take any time off from what I’ve heard/seen.
I’d ask upfront what people in your type of role generally take each year, and I’d bet money it’s less than you expect they should get. Agree what your minimum number of weeks will be before signing, and get that in writing.
AnonymousNovember 24,2022 at 2:21PM UTC
I have unlimited PTO in my current and previous roles I take 4-5 weeks off every year with no issue. Never had an issue getting it approved. There are some colleagues who take a lot less but that’s their choice. Most tech companies offer this as standard now and to attract and retain talent. Also found these companies promote a healthy work life balance. It may be role dependent if you need to negotiate time off if you need someone to cover or busy period.
surfnwriteNovember 26,2022 at 2:39PM UTC
It's total BS and a race to the bottom. The jobs I've been in with unlimited PTO there's pretty much an expectation that you'll never use it. Asking for a week off is considered an extreme imposition. Most people will take 1-2 weeks max per year, and guiltily so.
AnonymousNovember 26,2022 at 3:05PM UTC
I have unlimited PTO and I work at a start up ish company. They make it mandatory that we take a minimum of 20 days off per year. I’ve been at the company for 2 months and my boss has given us a day off already as a mental health day. Plus he already reminded me to take time off during the holidays to be with my family. I came from a company that shut down for 2 weeks during the holiday and my new boss knows how important that is to me. He even said he’d cover my product releases while I’m gone himself. Just have the convo with your boss and set expectations of your time off.
AnonymousNovember 26,2022 at 3:26PM UTC
My experience with unlimited PTO has been the same as what you stated above. You get a few people who abuse it and take tons of vacation time, but in the end that works out badly for them come review/bonus time or when there's a planned layoff.
Claire McCabeNovember 26,2022 at 4:56PM UTC
I've had experience with both. In my tech start up job, time off was rare and we had "unlimited" PTO. But, it was a startup with an aggressive exit strategy. In my university job funded by the state, it's old school accrual and the people who have been there the longest get the most. Guess which job people actually take time off in?
AnonymousNovember 26,2022 at 5:03PM UTC
I think it depends a lot on the company culture. I work for a company that is moving to unlimited PTO next year, and I would be noping the heck out of there except that our culture is all about work life balance and flexibility and they’ve proven that through any number of other initiatives. Plus they were open that they were doing it so they stopped carrying the liability in the books while preserving the ability of people to take care of themselves. If that changes, and taking time off becomes an issue, I’ll look to leave, but for now I’m willing to give it a chance. It might be terrible, but since I never get close to taking my time off anyway, I’m not too concerned about it affecting me regularly.
KellyW43November 27,2022 at 5:28AM UTC
We currently have OPTO in our company. It's a 2 edged sword. Some people don't take enough of it and others take complete advantage of it. I know there's people in our company who have managed to take off 50 days throughout the year.
They removed some peoples time for taking too much.
Others, like me forget about it until the end of the year and is rushing to take some time off.
I don't mind it because I plan my time for the year. Whenever I'm traveling or need a few days off, I will take it. I don't take a lot, but I do take what I need.
Liz MilneNovember 28,2022 at 12:03PM UTC
I agree - it seems great until you actively look into the stats...
AnonymousNovember 28,2022 at 2:23PM UTC
I have unlimited PTO and I can honestly say I use it as well as my colleagues. One colleague has taken 32 days this year. I only started in June and have taken about 3 weeks or so. I'm also in Europe so we are mandated to take at least 25 days per year. I keep seeing people saying this is bull, but I've worked for two companies with unlimited PTO and people have taken full advantage.
Clydene HorriganNovember 29,2022 at 11:07PM UTC
My company was purchased by a company with unlimited PTO. My entire team had earned six weeks of PTO at the previous company - average tenure in my department was about 25 years. My team still takes about six weeks of PTO. The ones that do it now are the same ones that didn’t before. My only requirements are that they give s a couple weeks notice if they’re taking more than z day or two and that we’ve got coverage. I need to make sure we have at least one person for each job role on the schedule. The team will usually work it out amongst themselves.