I like our European rules, when we are guaranteed PTO by law and employers would often force you to take it when you accumulated too much unused off days. The system cares even for those who would not care for themselves.
Last year I was forced to take 2 weeks PTO just before Christmas so my company wouldn’t get slapped with fines. Unexpected, but welcome. I just hadn’t checked how many days were left unused.
I was made to take all of December off last year because I hadn’t taken enough days. It’s a weird feeling when your manager tells you that you have to stop working or they’ll fire you.
That’s helpful, making sure the person takes it even if they’re too nice and would give it up for the company. Some people can’t negotiate well and this would be helpful for them.
Yea I’m about to immigrate to Germany, going through the contract with HR and all the clauses around leave and overtime were astounding. I thought I had it good in ANZ, but this is fantastic.
I had so much more trouble at previous jobs getting approved for PTO, and it sucked ass trying to ration out my sick/vacation days to make sure I could be out and still get paid. Hell, I had to borrow against my next year’s PTO at one job to be able to go on my honeymoon.
The current gig I’m at just wants to know when I’ll be gone, and doesn’t really comment on it. It’s been great while dealing with kid/health issues and I’ve taken more PTO at this gig than I did at my previous couple gigs in 1/3 the time.
Even regular old finite PTO may not actually be yours depending on the state. My state does not require you to be paid out for it if you leave the job.
Unlimited cons: need approval, don’t get paid for unused time when you leave
Limited cons: needs approval, some places have use it or lose it policy for each year or you need to wait for days to accrue, limited sick days
Unlimited pros: unlimited, usually comes with unlimited sick days, don’t have to worry about accruing days
Limited pros: get paid for unused days when you leave
I dunno, at my last job with unlimited PTO I took as much as I wanted. Obviously you want to make sure things can run without you, but that’s manageable.
Unless you work someplace truly shitty that has unlimited PTO in name only, I think it’s by and large how you approach it. Most people do themselves dirty with it for no real reason. For me, I generally just took time off for planned vacations and a couple other things, typically taking off 4-6 weeks a year, which worked for me and I found pretty reasonable. Was absolutely never an issue.
My current job accrues 18 days paid off over the year (increasing with time on the job to 24 or something like that), and it’s mostly fine though honestly if I’ve used it all and I end up needing more time off, I’m probably just gonna take it off anyway. I’m still not 100% sure if it’s gonna be enough since I’m taking a week off next week to pack up my house to move.
I’ve found that people that get fucked with unlimited was their own fault. Anxiety and not being able to detach. My peers are taking like 40 days a year 🤷♂️
I think it depends on the workplace. I usually take around 4-5 weeks off a year but my manager is chill. I could see a bad manager rejecting most of your vacation time
It’s a spectrum. I manage a few teams. I, for a small portion of them, am constantly talking them off a cliff for minor issues outside of their control or responsibilities. Fearing they were going to be viewed unsuccessful. This is despite clear and constant feedback about their great performance, recent promotions, raises, and myself and direct managers saying, “this is a problem for the business to fix, it’s a blocker that management needs to fix so you aren’t dealing with it”. Some folks are very poor at handling that in a healthy way.
Those people you have to talk off a cliff, it’s because they are cognizant of the fact that they are but 1-2 missed paychecks from being homeless. And if they’re not, well, how long did it take them to get this job? Doubt they have the financial ability to weather another period of unemployment. I’m gainfully employed, get regular raises, but I’m still struggling, despite earning (20k) more than the median worker where I live. The next used car I buy, I’m making sure that I’ll be able to live in there if worse comes to worse.
the stress that accompanies poverty is far-reaching, and invades every other aspect of your life. We’re all just terrified of dying alone on the street, because right now in the U.S. that’s a very real possibility for 60% of us.
Having to ask for PTO — also known as “unlimited PTO” — is the the shittiest employment practice.
Every time a recruiter tells me a company offers “unlimited PTO” I ask if I can please have regular old finite-but-actually-yours PTO.
I like our European rules, when we are guaranteed PTO by law and employers would often force you to take it when you accumulated too much unused off days. The system cares even for those who would not care for themselves.
Last year I was forced to take 2 weeks PTO just before Christmas so my company wouldn’t get slapped with fines. Unexpected, but welcome. I just hadn’t checked how many days were left unused.
I like our European rules as well.
I was made to take all of December off last year because I hadn’t taken enough days. It’s a weird feeling when your manager tells you that you have to stop working or they’ll fire you.
That’s helpful, making sure the person takes it even if they’re too nice and would give it up for the company. Some people can’t negotiate well and this would be helpful for them.
Yea I’m about to immigrate to Germany, going through the contract with HR and all the clauses around leave and overtime were astounding. I thought I had it good in ANZ, but this is fantastic.
Unlimited PTO here, completely disagree.
I had so much more trouble at previous jobs getting approved for PTO, and it sucked ass trying to ration out my sick/vacation days to make sure I could be out and still get paid. Hell, I had to borrow against my next year’s PTO at one job to be able to go on my honeymoon.
The current gig I’m at just wants to know when I’ll be gone, and doesn’t really comment on it. It’s been great while dealing with kid/health issues and I’ve taken more PTO at this gig than I did at my previous couple gigs in 1/3 the time.
I think that has more to do with who you’re working for directly than anything else.
Even regular old finite PTO may not actually be yours depending on the state. My state does not require you to be paid out for it if you leave the job.
It’s great - if you have a good boss.
Unlimited cons: need approval, don’t get paid for unused time when you leave
Limited cons: needs approval, some places have use it or lose it policy for each year or you need to wait for days to accrue, limited sick days
Unlimited pros: unlimited, usually comes with unlimited sick days, don’t have to worry about accruing days
Limited pros: get paid for unused days when you leave
I dunno, at my last job with unlimited PTO I took as much as I wanted. Obviously you want to make sure things can run without you, but that’s manageable.
Unless you work someplace truly shitty that has unlimited PTO in name only, I think it’s by and large how you approach it. Most people do themselves dirty with it for no real reason. For me, I generally just took time off for planned vacations and a couple other things, typically taking off 4-6 weeks a year, which worked for me and I found pretty reasonable. Was absolutely never an issue.
My current job accrues 18 days paid off over the year (increasing with time on the job to 24 or something like that), and it’s mostly fine though honestly if I’ve used it all and I end up needing more time off, I’m probably just gonna take it off anyway. I’m still not 100% sure if it’s gonna be enough since I’m taking a week off next week to pack up my house to move.
I’ve found that people that get fucked with unlimited was their own fault. Anxiety and not being able to detach. My peers are taking like 40 days a year 🤷♂️
I think it depends on the workplace. I usually take around 4-5 weeks off a year but my manager is chill. I could see a bad manager rejecting most of your vacation time
Thanks, I didn’t realize having anxiety was also my fault
It’s a spectrum. I manage a few teams. I, for a small portion of them, am constantly talking them off a cliff for minor issues outside of their control or responsibilities. Fearing they were going to be viewed unsuccessful. This is despite clear and constant feedback about their great performance, recent promotions, raises, and myself and direct managers saying, “this is a problem for the business to fix, it’s a blocker that management needs to fix so you aren’t dealing with it”. Some folks are very poor at handling that in a healthy way.
Those people you have to talk off a cliff, it’s because they are cognizant of the fact that they are but 1-2 missed paychecks from being homeless. And if they’re not, well, how long did it take them to get this job? Doubt they have the financial ability to weather another period of unemployment. I’m gainfully employed, get regular raises, but I’m still struggling, despite earning (20k) more than the median worker where I live. The next used car I buy, I’m making sure that I’ll be able to live in there if worse comes to worse.
the stress that accompanies poverty is far-reaching, and invades every other aspect of your life. We’re all just terrified of dying alone on the street, because right now in the U.S. that’s a very real possibility for 60% of us.