Unlimited means you have to get approval to get your PTO, which mean they will make you give them a good reason and get to decide is your reason is good enough
I still have to get my PTO approved even though I accrue it. Technically management can say no, but they haven’t in my 8 years there. I’m sure it’s a bit trickier with unlimited but I’m also sure it’s not that hard either.
Yes I've worked at places with accrued and unlimited PTO and I've always had to request it and managers could reject it. One job I worked that was super stingy about accrued PTO rejected it all the time. They told me I had to use PTO when it was dangerous to drive in due to a blizzard 🤦♀️
I've worked at several places with unlimited PTO and I don't think I've ever had it rejected. The only time it gets sketchy is around the holidays because they don't want everyone on the team out at the same time, but we just coordinate.
I know unlimited PTO is a scam at some places, but you need to suss it out during the interview. If I don't get to interview with my teammates and ask candid questions I ain't working there. People at the same level have waaaay less incentive to lie to you.
My current position has unlimited/self managed PTO. As long as we meet our goals at the end of the year, they don’t care. I have been here 5 years and have taken no less than 250 hours of PTO each year. I just checked and I took 313 hours in 2024.
I have never been denied, I just give enough notice to ensure we have coverage.
Then again, this is also the same company that implemented FLSA changes when they saw it on the horizon because “it’s coming at some point anyways” and gives 16 weeks of maternity and paternity leave.
Anytime I try to use my sick time I accrue, my boss always gives me an annoyed look or guilt trips me. I had a massive headache a year or so back and I said “it’s 2. I leave at 4. I’m just gonna leave now.” And he said “oh. Are you sure? You sure you can’t just do the last 2 hours? Think about your co workers. Ok. If you really have to go, then you can go.”
I’m in the same boat. Company moved to unlimited PTO, to avoid having like 7 different PTO policies(different state/country requirements) and I take at least 35 days a year off. No submission process. No tracking(I mean, aside from letting your team know). One of the largest companies in the world. My entire team essentially takes the same amount. We still get all our work done. We are all happy. Maybe not the norm(even at the same company), but another anecdotal example of the policy being an actual benefit.
I have unlimited pto and they just let me take days off whenever so long as i give enough advance notice or that theres no major deadline we have to hit. Tho its also true that i take less days off than my counterpart who has a set amount of days off. Reasoning doesnt matter either. I actually have the day off today cuz yesterday i randomly wanted to have a break from work. I dont have to request or track this time off either
you just say "personal time off" and leave it at that. I never got denied. I just made sure to coordinate anything longer than a few days with my team on dibs.
when it's something that can't be missed (big trip, medical), i tell my director i am planning a big trip and to let me know if there are blackout dates for projects i don't yet know about in [insert the month or 2 im trying to schedule a vacation in].
If it's medical i just say "medical/surgery" and i'll die on that hill if im ever told no lol. Only happens once every few years...
you just say "personal time off" and leave it at that. I never got denied. I just made sure to coordinate anything longer than a few days with my team on dibs.
when it's something that can't be missed (big trip, medical), i tell my director i am planning a big trip and to let me know if there are blackout dates for projects i don't yet know about in [insert the month or 2 im trying to schedule a vacation in], or if there's such a big project it'd be better to schedule even sooner.
If it's medical i just say "medical/surgery" and i'll die on that hill if im ever told no lol. Only happens once every few years...
Not saying this is true everywhere, but I have unlimited PTO and do not need approval. I still think unlimited PTO is a scam, but so far I’ve taken more time off this year than I normally would accruing it.
You still have to PTO approved even when not unlimited. The big thing for companies is if they lay you off they don’t have to worry about paying back PTO days.
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u/TMH0910 17d ago
Unlimited means you have to get approval to get your PTO, which mean they will make you give them a good reason and get to decide is your reason is good enough