How many days off should you take with unlimited PTO?

Employees with traditional PTO plans take an average of 15 days off a year, according to a 2017 study from human resources platform Namely. Those with unlimited policies take just 13 days off.


Do people take less time off with unlimited PTO?

Employees Will Take Less Time Off

In fact, according to a Forbes article employees that work in companies with an unlimited paid time off policy, take less time off.

Is unlimited PTO a good idea?

Given its complexity, you might wonder why so many companies are starting to offer unlimited PTO to begin with. The truth is, the benefits for both employees and businesses are impressive. Studies show that employees who take PTO experience lowered stress, are more productive, and are happier at work.


Is unlimited PTO a red flag?

No, not by itself. For companies that have unlimited PTO policies, ask what the average number of PTO days taken are for the company. It's a red flag if they don't have that information.

Is 15 days PTO good?

Yes, 15 days of PTO is good for most employees.

If a job is advertising 15 days of PTO for new hires, that can definitely be considered a good offer and a significant draw for talented candidates.


With UNLIMITED PTO ⏳ How much time off do people actually take?



Is 2 weeks of PTO a lot?

Is two weeks of vacation time normal? Two weeks of vacation time is pretty standard in the US. However, employers are not required to offer paid vacation time. Still, they often include it willingly as part of their benefits package to attract potential employees.

How many days of PTO is normal?

Ten (10) days is the average number of PTO for private sector employees who have completed one year of service, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This number, rounded to the nearest whole number (it's actually 9.7 days), does not include sick days or paid holidays.

What are the downsides to unlimited PTO?

In its best form, an unlimited time off policy promotes work-life balance and offers employees an added perk that may help attract talent and reduce turnover. But when managed poorly, unlimited PTO can actually cause more burnout, increase stress, lead to less time off overall, and lower trust across an organization.


Do people take more time off with unlimited PTO?

In fact, employees with unlimited PTO tend to take less time off than those with a traditional time-off policy. “According to a study done by Namely, an HR software company, employees under unlimited PTO take an average of 13 days off annually,” Flanagan said.

How can I take advantage of unlimited PTO?

How to use unlimited PTO
  1. Understand company policy. ...
  2. Plan ahead for any time off. ...
  3. Speak with co-workers and management. ...
  4. Request instead of demand. ...
  5. Get your work done. ...
  6. Get coverage if needed. ...
  7. Be flexible when possible. ...
  8. Leave your work at work.


How do managers handle unlimited PTO?

How to manage an unlimited PTO policy
  1. Don't keep score.
  2. Set a minimum.
  3. Identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
  4. Respect personal and cultural differences.
  5. Make unlimited PTO a perk, not an excuse.


What is one best practice when offering unlimited PTO?

Allow Employees to Take Time off as Needed

Many companies are now offering unlimited PTO vacation policies to their employees. There are a few different ways to implement this policy, but the best practice is to allow employees to take time off as needed.

What are the pros and cons of unlimited PTO?

In addition to flexibility, companies that offer unlimited PTO can benefit from these pros of flexible time.
  • Improved Employee Morale. ...
  • Establish an Employee-Centric Workplace Culture. ...
  • Serves as a Tool for Recruitment and Retention. ...
  • It Can Boost Productivity. ...
  • Employees Could Abuse the Policy.


Why are companies giving unlimited PTO?

An unlimited PTO policy makes an employer more appealing to prospective and existing employees. “It signals to candidates that the company cares about well-being and shows that employees are trusted to do the right thing,” says Michelle Hay, global chief people officer at benefits manager Sedgwick.


Why do unlimited PTO policies fail?

Perhaps the biggest downfall of unlimited PTO policies is that — even if company leaders strongly support work-life balance, and even if protocols have been put in place to make this benefit more accessible — there's no system to track and ensure employees take time off.

Does PTO help burnout?

Employers who offer PTO support the overall mental health of their staff, and employees who use PTO can help reduce burnout and increase productivity and creativity. However, the positive impact of time away from work only occurs if employees actually use their PTO.

How much time off is too much time off?

On the employee's side, experts estimate that the perfect vacation length is somewhere between eight days and ten days. Also, research finds frequent vacations (as opposed to using vacation days in one big chunk) are good for you.


Do companies track unlimited PTO?

The Pitfalls of Unlimited PTO Policies

Not having a cap on PTO means that employers generally do not have to track employees' time off. However, many cities, counties, and states have now implemented laws mandating particular amounts of sick leave for workers, meaning employers must track employees' work time.

What percentage of US employers offer unlimited PTO?

"Only 9% of employees enjoy unlimited PTO." "68% of employees are happier at work because their employers encourage taking PTO." "31% of US workers do not have paid time off."

How is unlimited PTO paid out?

With an unlimited PTO policy, employers offer paid time off from one accrual category, rather than keeping track of several categories such as Sick, Vacation, or Personal time off (PTO), and the employee only being able to utilize the time they have allotted from each category as deemed appropriate.


Is 14 days PTO normal?

The number of vacation days granted each year may vary by length of service. In 2021, more than one–third of private industry workers received 10 to 14 days of paid vacation after one year of service. After 10 years of service, 33 percent of private industry workers received between 15 and 19 days of paid vacation.

Is 20 vacation days a lot?

The average number of vacation days employees who have worked at a business between 10-20 years receive is 20. And last but not least, employees who have been at a business for 20 or more years receive an average of 30 vacation days.

How much PTO is normal 2022?

According to a 2022 report by Zippia, “The average amount of PTO in America is 10 days each year.” Employees in larger companies and/or working for the same company for many years usually receive more PTO than those in smaller companies or with less tenure.


Is 3 weeks of PTO 21 days or 15?

Employers often describe paid vacation as a specific number of days or weeks. If your employer gives you three weeks of paid vacation, remember that this is usually "work weeks" and not calendar weeks. Three weeks of paid vacation time translates to 15 paid vacation days, not 21.

What is a fair PTO policy?

Every PTO plan is different, but while traditional leave policies typically grant employees 30 paid days off per year — 10 days of paid vacation, 8 sick days, 2 personal days, plus 10 paid holidays, most PTO policies give employees between 15 and 20 days plus company-observed holidays, according to the Society of Human ...