Tech startup employee is expected to work on days they take PTO, internet discusses the fallacy of ‘unlimited’ PTO policies: ‘[It] really means no PTO’

After searching for a job for what seems like years, you land the perfect position. The role is at a company with a startup culture, which is fine… but you notice their company PTO policy is "unlimited." How does that work? Is that possible? Legend has it, that folks who have "unlimited" PTO policies cannot answer these questions to this day!

Accrued PTO, preset allotted PTO, and unlimited PTO are different, but I'm sure you already know that. With accrued PTO, from the day you start in your role, you begin accruing hours that will be put toward your PTO pool. Every company is different, but you usually accrue one day per month of work at your company. Preset allotted PTO is self-explanatory; your company gives you a number of days each year, and you do what you want with them. Unlimited PTO should mean you can take off as much as you want without explanation, but this story will remind you that no company wants you to do that. Scroll to read.

Add us on Google

Advertisement

All of this isn't to say that every company with an unlimited PTO policy will force you to work on days you technically have off. That would be crazy. However, the employee who posted this story in particular explains that every time they take off, they are messaged on Slack by their coworkers, and this isn't exclusive to only them. It seems the company culture has turned a PTO day into just another day of work, and this employee is fed up.
via Hans Isaacson For Unsplash+

_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}
Advertisement
"My ‘unlimited’ PTO policy is ruining my life. What do I do to stay sane while I look for another job?"

via Wegmansgroceries
via Wegmansgroceries
via Wegmansgroceries
Advertisement
via Wegmansgroceries
via Getty Images For Unsplash+

_{The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.}
Advertisement
via Wegmansgroceries
via Wegmansgroceries
Advertisement
via Wegmansgroceries
via Wegmansgroceries
via Wegmansgroceries
Advertisement
via Wegmansgroceries
via xtc46
via LanEvo7685
Advertisement
via Normal_Donut_6700
via b1gb0n312
via fisher101101
Advertisement
via LakeKind5959
via Eco605
via sjgokou
Advertisement
via sjgokou

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

workplace-stories startup toxic-workplace career advice work reddit story horrible-management PTO career workplace reddit thread entitled people vacation toxic-work-environment

Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From FAIL Blog

Boss schedules employee during approved mountain vacation with no cell service, threatens their job when worker don't show up: ‘I turn my phone back on, and I get bombarded with a million notifications’

Boss schedules employee during approved mountain vacation with no cell service, threatens their job when worker don't show up: ‘I turn my phone back on, and I get bombarded with a million notifications’

Next Article