Get Your Butt Back To The Office (1 Viewer)

[Snotbubbles]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

 

[nirad3]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

 

[NutterButter]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

 

[nirad3]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

It's 68 and partly cloudy pretty much any day during the year here in SoCal, so weather isn't a big deal to me. I just hang around the house, watch college football bowl games and don't do much else.

 

[NutterButter]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

It's 68 and partly cloudy pretty much any day during the year here in SoCal, so weather isn't a big deal to me. I just hang around the house, watch college football bowl games and don't do much else.

Yeah, i thought you were in a nice area so it wasn't directed necessarily at you. I just see it all the time throughout my job history for folks that live in the north.

 

[Sand]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Oh, you have to share the details of the carnage...

 

[Snotbubbles]

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

It's 68 and partly cloudy pretty much any day during the year here in SoCal, so weather isn't a big deal to me. I just hang around the house, watch college football bowl games and don't do much else.

Yeah, i thought you were in a nice area so it wasn't directed necessarily at you. I just see it all the time throughout my job history for folks that live in the north.

I always say I'm going to take my PTO during the summer (I live in the northeast) and the summer goes by in like 2 weeks and it's October and I still have all my PTO. Never fails.

 

[Max Power]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Oh, you have to share the details of the carnage...

The theory is that with unlimited pto people will take less days off because often employees are taking vacation days just to use them up. Like I have to do at the end of every year.

First month the company implemented it, a guy put in a request to do a 4 week hike through Europe. They fought him a bit, but he was "turning in" 17 days of vacation time under the old structure. So the company agrees (4 weeks is basically 20 days) and the rest of the employees get wind of it. Company had to institute a maximum of 30 days at a time policy at that point.

Employees still have to request the time off and get approved at which point the company started denying some requests based on minimum manning. Of course the employees still need days off here and there for life, so they fall back on the unlimited sick leave. The company can't really say no to sick leave, so people end up calling out on the days they are supposed to work.

Of course that exacerbates the PTO request/denial issue because now the company is falling below minimums due to sick leave callouts.

This chaos and they are going to have to go back to the standard amount of leave policy. This is a younger workforce 22-35 range, so whatever study showed this saved money didnt take a fully junior staff into account.

 

[Sand]

First month the company implemented it, a guy put in a request to do a 4 week hike through Europe. They fought him a bit, but he was "turning in" 17 days of vacation time under the old structure. So the company agrees (4 weeks is basically 20 days) and the rest of the employees get wind of it. Company had to institute a maximum of 30 days at a time policy at that point.

This is on the company and really doesn't have anything to do with the unlimited part. The dude was using leave he would have gotten under the old system, which should be good to go, right? I see nothing wrong with what the guy did. Good on him for getting his hike in.

Honestly I don't get why your company delineates between sick and vacation time. Just call it unlimited PTO. I mean, that's rhetorical, I get why they do it - so they can make value judgements on what leave is worthy of granting. But still, jeez.

Your company sounds peachy, BTW. Obviously understaffed because they aren't properly accounting for totally normal, expected PTO time. Then judging who is worthy of getting to take time off.

The theory is that with unlimited pto people will take less days off because often employees are taking vacation days just to use them up. Like I have to do at the end of every year.

And to not have it as a liability on their balance sheets (particularly in states where vacation payout on leaving is mandatory). But, honestly, counting vacation as a liability is a **** move and a ridiculous way to account for that time. My old company used to do that. They'd send out an annual letter to me telling me the value of the benefits they gave me and what it was worth. They included vacation time in that - FU I earned that time.

 

[Instinctive]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Oh, you have to share the details of the carnage...

The theory is that with unlimited pto people will take less days off because often employees are taking vacation days just to use them up. Like I have to do at the end of every year.

First month the company implemented it, a guy put in a request to do a 4 week hike through Europe. They fought him a bit, but he was "turning in" 17 days of vacation time under the old structure. So the company agrees (4 weeks is basically 20 days) and the rest of the employees get wind of it. Company had to institute a maximum of 30 days at a time policy at that point.

Employees still have to request the time off and get approved at which point the company started denying some requests based on minimum manning. Of course the employees still need days off here and there for life, so they fall back on the unlimited sick leave. The company can't really say no to sick leave, so people end up calling out on the days they are supposed to work.

Of course that exacerbates the PTO request/denial issue because now the company is falling below minimums due to sick leave callouts.

This chaos and they are going to have to go back to the standard amount of leave policy. This is a younger workforce 22-35 range, so whatever study showed this saved money didnt take a fully junior staff into account.

Kind of an amusing story.

Usually, the reason to move off of unlimited PTO is to minimize liability on separations. Many states have laws requiring payouts and such, and "unlimited" ends up potentially costing employers a lot on the back end.


ETA: Looks like @Sand beat me to it by like 10 seconds LOL

 

[Max Power]

First month the company implemented it, a guy put in a request to do a 4 week hike through Europe. They fought him a bit, but he was "turning in" 17 days of vacation time under the old structure. So the company agrees (4 weeks is basically 20 days) and the rest of the employees get wind of it. Company had to institute a maximum of 30 days at a time policy at that point.

This is on the company and really doesn't have anything to do with the unlimited part. The dude was using leave he would have gotten under the old system, which should be good to go, right? I see nothing wrong with what the guy did. Good on him for getting his hike in.

Honestly I don't get why your company delineates between sick and vacation time. Just call it unlimited PTO. I mean, that's rhetorical, I get why they do it - so they can make value judgements on what leave is worthy of granting. But still, jeez.

Your company sounds peachy, BTW. Obviously understaffed because they aren't properly accounting for totally normal, expected PTO time. Then judging who is worthy of getting to take time off.

The theory is that with unlimited pto people will take less days off because often employees are taking vacation days just to use them up. Like I have to do at the end of every year.

And to not have it as a liability on their balance sheets (particularly in states where vacation payout on leaving is mandatory). But, honestly, counting vacation as a liability is a **** move and a ridiculous way to account for that time. My old company used to do that. They'd send out an annual letter to me telling me the value of the benefits they gave me and what it was worth. They included vacation time in that - FU I earned that time.

The company has a lot of turnover. I'm a federal government employee. The deal I was talking about is the main contract that supports our unit. It's a 200 person manpower contact with a mid-level defense contractor company.

The people making the judgement calls on leave approval are the contract program managers and their team leads. They have to cover manning a 24/7 work center, so needless to say its always a mess and communication stinks.

 

[-OZ-]

t, honestly, counting vacation as a liability is a **** move and a ridiculous way to account for that time. My old company used to do that. They'd send out an annual letter to me telling me the value of the benefits they gave me and what it was worth. They included vacation time in that - FU I earned that time.

Maybe I misunderstand, but what would unused PTO be if not a liability to the company? Of course you earned the time, just like you earned your pay. Isn’t pay due to an employee a liability to the company?

 

[BassNBrew]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Was going to ask for details....nevermind.

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

 

[Sand]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Was going to ask for details....nevermind.
I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

I love the week between Christmas and New Year. I get so much more done when people aren't around.

 

[BassNBrew]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Was going to ask for details....nevermind.
I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

I love the week between Christmas and New Year. I get so much more done when people aren't around.

Yeah, but you're an achiever.

 

[Snotbubbles]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Was going to ask for details....nevermind.

She did this because of the environment our team cultivates.

This is where WFH works. It's the same in my group, our former boss never had a problem with the random WFH days because 1.) we didn't abuse it and probably more importantly, 2.) the work always got done. The problem starts when one or both of those get abused by "that guy/girl" who take advantage of it and ruin it for the group. As you expand that small group out it will happen.

Say your group is 5 people who all get it and work well together. Somebody in another department sees it and says why can't we do that too? So now you have two groups, lets say 10 people now. I can almost guarantee there will be some asshat in 10 people that will jack it up for everybody else.

This is a great point and spot on, imo. Unfortunately it's also the same asshat who regularly uses all his leave by calling out frequently and is also the least responsible person in the office as well. Probably hides with head down most days. I worked with someone like that and it was a glorious day when that person finally left.

The one thing I found now that I WFH is that I don't really use PTO that much. I usually have about 60% of my PTO still left around Thanksgiving.

See if you can transfer it to me. I'll use it.

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August.

Our company has a policy where we MUST - at some point during the calendar year - take five consecutive work days off. In my four-plus years here I've just taken off the week between Christmas and New Years. No one really works much that week anyways. I end up just checking emails but not much else.

I do take off the occasional Friday for a long weekend, but aside from that I really don't take PTO.

That's why I never take that week off. LOL. Real go getter I am. I never understood people taking that time off unless you had to for personal reasons. Weather is terrible for most of the country and also just a terrible time to travel.

I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

I would prefer if the company would buy back my unused vacation time but they don't.

 

[Mitchie]

My company went to unlimited vacation time a few years back, initial reaction from most people was that this is awesome, but I use less days, and think generally most people do as well. I doubt too many people use more than what they were previously allotted.

 

[zamboni]

My company went to unlimited vacation time a few years back, initial reaction from most people was that this is awesome, but I use less days, and think generally most people do as well. I doubt too many people use more than what they were previously allotted.

It's likely been said above, but going to unlimited vacation time is basically a sneaky move by companies to avoid paying out unused PTO when employees leave. Plus companies likely know that unlimited vacation time probably leads to, in aggregate, less vacation time used. Likely based on the assumption that most employees probably don't want to be spotlighted as one who uses more vacation time than others do.

 

[NutterButter]

My company in NJ only pays out 2 weeks PTO if you give 2 weeks notice and if you don't take any sick or pto days during that period. If you're terminated, you get nadda. I have no desire for unlimited, but if my company ever switched to unlimited, I would just continue to take the number days I was receiving prior to unlimited.

 

[AAABatteries]

My company went to unlimited vacation time a few years back, initial reaction from most people was that this is awesome, but I use less days, and think generally most people do as well. I doubt too many people use more than what they were previously allotted.

When unlimited PTO was initialing being discussed years back, I told my manager at the time that once implemented I would track my PTO offline and take (at minimum) the same days I would be eligible for under the current policy. I'm not looking to play HR games.

 

[Nugget]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

 

[Max Power]

My company went to unlimited vacation time a few years back, initial reaction from most people was that this is awesome, but I use less days, and think generally most people do as well. I doubt too many people use more than what they were previously allotted.

It's likely been said above, but going to unlimited vacation time is basically a sneaky move by companies to avoid paying out unused PTO when employees leave. Plus companies likely know that unlimited vacation time probably leads to, in aggregate, less vacation time used. Likely based on the assumption that most employees probably don't want to be spotlighted as one who uses more vacation time than others do.

I know that was the intention, but it boils down to culture for companies. My situation is more of an entry level job with no major growth on this contract. The younger generation views it as a job vs a career and they don't mind being the guy asking for a month off.

 

[Don Quixote]

Our primary contract went to an unlimited PTO structure last year because they thought it would be more cost effective, but it's been a disaster.

Was going to ask for details....nevermind.
I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

I love the week between Christmas and New Year. I get so much more done when people aren't around.

My place closes down the weeks of Christmas and July 4th for firm holidays. It is a nice because most of the stuff that I deal personally with are questions from internal teams as opposed to external clients. Sometimes do have to deal with something critical that comes up, but e-mail traffic and things that need to deal with reduce significantly when everyone is basically off at the same time.

 

[Max Power]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

I feel guilty taking time off and I'm not close to a control freak, but I also hate not having the final say in anything my section does. I trust the other leaders to make the right decisions, but I'm accountable for everything and anything that comes out of my section. Having to defend other people's decisions isn't an ideal situation for me.

I end up taking the last 2-3 weeks of the year off every year because of use or lose. It's also a period where nothing gets done. We typically don't make any major decisions between thanksgiving and new years.

 

[MAC_32]

I always thought taking time off at the end of the year was stupid. Lots of places let you leave at midday the day before a holiday and hardly anyone works anyway.

Lots of people use their vacation time when their kids are off school. While I generally don't plan in advance to take days before / around holidays off, when I do this is usually why. In my new world, the one exception would be if I get to the end of the year and still have unused vacation since it doesn't carry over. Then I'll just take whatever I have left. That said, our org usually closes Christmas Eve and doesn't re-open until after New Year's, so the days I'm talking about are not in between Christmas and New Year's. I'm talking about the few days before Christmas, the day before Thanksgiving, the day before July 4th, the Friday before Labor Day / Memorial Day, St. Paddy's, etc.

 

[AAABatteries]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

Sounds horrible. I can’t imagine leaving 3 weeks of vacation unused. Do you love your job that much?

 

[beer 30]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

Sounds horrible. I can’t imagine leaving 3 weeks of vacation unused. Do you love your job that much?

I used to be similar. Never scheduled vacation unless the wife planned something and invariably left time on the table every year. One of my bosses started encouraging me to take time off as it was considered a part of my compensation so I was just screwing myself. I know it's self evident but it took him telling me for it to click. Since then I've done a pretty good job of using up the vacation either through long weekends or scheduled trips.

Don't short yourself on vacation, the company, your work, your co-workers will all get along without you.

 

[AAABatteries]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

Sounds horrible. I can’t imagine leaving 3 weeks of vacation unused. Do you love your job that much?

I used to be similar. Never scheduled vacation unless the wife planned something and invariably left time on the table every year. One of my bosses started encouraging me to take time off as it was considered a part of my compensation so I was just screwing myself. I know it's self evident but it took him telling me for it to click. Since then I've done a pretty good job of using up the vacation either through long weekends or scheduled trips.

Don't short yourself on vacation, the company, your work, your co-workers will all get along without you.

Totally understand it varies from company to company and role to role so maybe I've just been lucky. I always use all of my PTO - it's not even a consideration for me.

 

[coopersdad]

Since covid I've banked up to the max of 35 days.

Starting in April I either have to use 1 vacation day / 2 weeks or I stop accruing (basically leaving it on the table).

Since this job will be leaving me in about 18 months (not my decision), I will be taking every other Friday off until the summer, at which point in time I'll take a week or so off and get ahead of the game a bit. If I have to work said Friday due to getting something done, I've got a "wink" with my boss that I'll still turn the day in, but will take it in the summer.

Worked 22 years thinking I was working for "something", only to be told by the new regime "not so much buddy", and "your severance isn't what you think it's going to be either".

Took about a nano second to change my outlook a bit.

 

[Nugget]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

Sounds horrible. I can’t imagine leaving 3 weeks of vacation unused. Do you love your job that much?

We have 17 holidays, 5 weeks of vacation, 10 personal days and I'm 100% remote. My work/life balance is pretty sweet.

Biggest issue for more trips is scheduling between downtime at work, GFs academic calendar, custody arrangements.

 

[MAC_32]

I can barely find time to take lunch, let alone a vacation. After my son graduates in 2026, I'm scheduling at least 4 weeks of trips. I'm usually leaving 15 days on the table.

Sounds horrible. I can’t imagine leaving 3 weeks of vacation unused. Do you love your job that much?

We have 17 holidays, 5 weeks of vacation, 10 personal days and I'm 100% remote. My work/life balance is pretty sweet.

Biggest issue for more trips is scheduling between downtime at work, GFs academic calendar, custody arrangements.

Obviously I don't know your situation, personal or professional, but post covid I got in the habit of blocking off my calendar every Friday from Memorial Day to Halloween and summer Thursday afternoons. Now, I work quite a bit during that time, especially in Sep / Oct, but this way stuff wouldn't end up scheduled in advance without my intentionally creating the space. Then when I make commitments the vacation requests are approved without a second thought and if I still have days remaining when the weather turns, I just extend the holidays around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

[offdee]

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August

This is one main reason why companies are going to unlimited PTO…good majority of employees all do this so you have 3/4 of the company taking off at the same times just because they have days to use up.

 

[Scoresman]

I am incredibly grateful to have a job that doesn't really care when I use it so long as advance notice is given appropriate to the length of time taken. Almost everyone I know has to coordinate PTO with other co-worker's vacations and I find that a bit ludicrous. They end up being incredibly limited as to when they can use the PTO they accrued.

 

[FarFromHome]

I am incredibly grateful to have a job that doesn't really care when I use it so long as advance notice is given appropriate to the length of time taken. Almost everyone I know has to coordinate PTO with other co-worker's vacations and I find that a bit ludicrous. They end up being incredibly limited as to when they can use the PTO they accrued.

Isn't that the weirdest thing. My wife started at a new hospital. We are going on vacation in 6 months. She can't just put in for vacation. She has to literally find coworkers willing to work those shifts. When she told me I flat out didn't believe her. Why is that the employees problem? They accrue vacation. They take vacation. Managers manage staffing. It's dumb and no one can convince me otherwise. I'm dieing on this hill

 

[Scoresman]

I am incredibly grateful to have a job that doesn't really care when I use it so long as advance notice is given appropriate to the length of time taken. Almost everyone I know has to coordinate PTO with other co-worker's vacations and I find that a bit ludicrous. They end up being incredibly limited as to when they can use the PTO they accrued.

Isn't that the weirdest thing. My wife started at a new hospital. We are going on vacation in 6 months. She can't just put in for vacation. She has to literally find coworkers willing to work those shifts. When she told me I flat out didn't believe her. Why is that the employees problem? They accrue vacation. They take vacation. Managers manage staffing. It's dumb and no one can convince me otherwise. I'm dieing on this hill

Well, for the medical industry and a few others, I kind of understand why it is that way. You cant have all the nurses out in an emergency room or whatever. Just isnt workable and you should know this going into that kind of field. But yeah, that really should be the manager's job.

But for most kinds of office settings, there is no reason to put such restrictions on PTO IMO.

 

[FarFromHome]

I am incredibly grateful to have a job that doesn't really care when I use it so long as advance notice is given appropriate to the length of time taken. Almost everyone I know has to coordinate PTO with other co-worker's vacations and I find that a bit ludicrous. They end up being incredibly limited as to when they can use the PTO they accrued.

Isn't that the weirdest thing. My wife started at a new hospital. We are going on vacation in 6 months. She can't just put in for vacation. She has to literally find coworkers willing to work those shifts. When she told me I flat out didn't believe her. Why is that the employees problem? They accrue vacation. They take vacation. Managers manage staffing. It's dumb and no one can convince me otherwise. I'm dieing on this hill

Well, for the medical industry and a few others, I kind of understand why it is that way. You cant have all the nurses out in an emergency room or whatever. Just isnt workable and you should know this going into that kind of field. But yeah, that really should be the manager's job.

But for most kinds of office settings, there is no reason to put such restrictions on PTO IMO.

Many moons ago I was the vacation person. TWO slots a day was my max to approve for staffing. If your a nurse and you want vacation 6 months from now and nobody has reached out about that specific time you approve it. You can afford to miss one nurse. Then the next person who wants that specific time you decline. Easy. You want me to fill the staffing for the days I need? Forget about it. Ha ha

 

[Tick]

If practice is a 90 mins but the commute is 30 mins each way, why would you go home? Sure you could do grocery shopping or another errand, but sometimes you just wanna get some sunlight and socialize with the other parents. He'll, I've even gone to a bar to get a drink during practice, but most of the time i hang out.

I haven't cleaned the inside of my windshield since my youngest got his license 2 years ago.

 

[NutterButter]

I usually end up taking off the entire Thanksgiving week and the last two weeks of the year. I'm not going on a vacation this summer so I'll probably take off a few Fridays or Mondays in July and August

This is one main reason why companies are going to unlimited PTO…good majority of employees all do this so you have 3/4 of the company taking off at the same times just because they have days to use up.

They should just switch to the pto bank instead rather than the use it or lose it at the end of year. Much better system.

 

[nirad3]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

 

[offdee]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

Now imagine if the office firewalled all entertainment (including FF) sites. Many do this now too.

 

[nirad3]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

Now imagine if the office firewalled all entertainment (including FF) sites. Many do this now too.

I'd be irate. I'd just spend more time on my phone, but browsing wouldn't be as easy.

 

[the moops]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

Now imagine if the office firewalled all entertainment (including FF) sites. Many do this now too.

I'd be irate. I'd just spend more time on my phone, but browsing wouldn't be as easy.

Or just bring a personal laptop into the office with ya

 

[offdee]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

Now imagine if the office firewalled all entertainment (including FF) sites. Many do this now too.

I'd be irate. I'd just spend more time on my phone, but browsing wouldn't be as easy.

Or just bring a personal laptop into the office with ya

you'd still be on the company's wifi and be blocked.

 

[the moops]

I've vented in here before about this, but since here I am at 3pm once again with an empty inbox and nothing left on my daily to-do list, I'm stuck twiddling my thumbs and looking for something to do at the office... because I HAVE to be here. Unfortunately this is right when the FFA starts to slow down, too, with east coast and middle America FBG's logging off their machines for the most part. So I'm relegated to checking my fantasy baseball lineup and thankfully I have about 5 dynasty football leagues undergoing RFA right now, so I can waste some time there. But yeah, I'd rather just be on the road home and deal with any late-comers on email when I got home. But noooo...

Now imagine if the office firewalled all entertainment (including FF) sites. Many do this now too.

I'd be irate. I'd just spend more time on my phone, but browsing wouldn't be as easy.

Or just bring a personal laptop into the office with ya

you'd still be on the company's wifi and be blocked.

Use your phones hotspot. Come on dude