Employee's PTO Revoked After a Jealous Boss Claims He's 'Never Taken [a Vacation] That Long, Why Should You?'

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jan 29, 2024 8:00 PM EST

To avoid giving employees actual real benefits, a lot of big companies have adopted the notion of 'unlimited PTO'. After numerous studies have shown that employees with unlimited days off actually take fewer vacations, every CEO and supervisor within 1,000 leagues jumped on the bandwagon. When employees are taking less than 10 days a year of vacation, that means they're working constantly– woohoo!

However, there are a few 'rogue' employees who understand that unlimited PTO means UNLIMITED PTO. That's a tough opportunity to pass up if you think about it. Who are we to question the laws of the land in the workplace? In our next story though, a guy who was happy to cash in on his unlimited vacation time got snubbed because his boss decided to change the rules. Out of spite, OP's PTO was denied, but that certainly doesn't mean he's going to let them walk all over him. 

Scroll for all the details of how a rebellious worker brought out the rules of the petty handbook and taught his jealous boss a lesson.

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  • 01
    "Unlimited PTO is a scam"
    via canva
  • 02
    r/antiwork Posted by u/Economy-Fault 9410 1 day ago Change my PTO plans? GTFO Boss told me today that my 3 week vacation he approved a month back is going to be denied by him. He said he
    via Economy-Fault9410
  • 03
    thought about it again and said "why should you take a 3 week vacation? I've never taken one that long and I bet my boss hasn't either". Basically pulled it out of his , then he asks me if I'm willing to change my flight so I can come back to work after 2 weeks. I've never taken a
    via Economy-Fault9410
  • 04
    vacation yet after being here for almost 2 years and we have "unlimited PTO" which he then corrects to say "well it looks like it's "Flexible PTO" nah that. I'm taking my 3 weeks no matter what. These tech sales managers think they're the most important people in the world.
    via Economy-Fault9410
  • 05
    troutdog99 1 day ago Unlimited PTO is a clever idea thought up by bean counters. It allows the company to stop carrying a liability (namely: unclaimed PTO) on the books. It was never intended as a benefit for employees.
    via troutdog99
  • 06
    Shizngigglz 1 day ago Yea it's only "unlimited" so they don't have to pay out anything when you leave the company. No vacation accrued means no vacation paid out
    via Shiznggigglz
  • 07
    C1rcuitBoard 23 hr. ago Or you can be like every company that I've worked for and just not pay out PTO anyway.
    via C1rcuitBoard
  • 08
    sjbuggs 18 hr. ago . Ironically when my company switched to unlimited PTO they had to bank all the PTO I had at the time for when I leave. I really like what I do so I'm a bit of workaholic and had a lot*. Since then, I've taken up some hobbies that I like too so I use it more.
    via sjbuggs
  • 09
    Except now I have a big bonus of sorts coming when I eventually bail. So they got the worst of both worlds out of that deal, -8 weeks of vacation on the books indefinitely and I take TO as needed.
    via sjbuggs
  • 10
    troutdog99 19 hr. ago This goes without saying, really: It's not really unlimited, either. Remember: you can be let go without a reason (in USA).
    via troutdog99
  • 11
    Squibit314 16 hr. ago And it is called Flexible PTO, although it's sold as "unlimited time off." Had this conversation with HR. 5 Reply Share 12whistle 8 hr. ago What does flexible mean? My PTO policy isn't unlimited but it is very generous and my boss is great so we don't ask, we just inform.
    via Squibit314
  • 12
    Sad-Corner-9972 - 1 day ago Look for another job. BTW, 3 weeks PTO for an American 2 year employee is pretty good. Make sure to negotiate that at your next place. Reply Share 587 KiwiKerfuffle 1 day ago ... terrible that at most companies you're given 2-6 hours a month. Not even a full day a month.
    via Sad-Corner-9972
  • 13
    Glider103 20 hr. ago The boss is a away what was already approved. can't take Unlimited PTO is scam on both ends - abuse by workers for more time than reasonable (or unequal time off between workers) and guilt trips from management to not go on any vacation
    via Glider103
  • 14
    But, 3 weeks for a 2 year employee, taken in the first quarter of the year is nearly in the range of non existent (in a single year scenario) Putting this in a roll over type situation where the PTO not taken has been banked then the time off itself wouldn't be an issue but the totality of the PTO could be depends on the functions of the position.
    via Glider103
  • 15
    Fixerguy415 1 day ago Reply: "It was y'all said "unlimited PTO." I submitted it and you approved it, and now you're backpedaling. So, since I've already spent money which isn't refundable or changeable, are we going to have a discussion about my detrimental reliance on your approval and how the company is going to reimburse me for the money I've had taken from me by the company; or am I going as planned and approved?"
    via Fixerguy415
  • 16
    greenwoodgiant - 23 hr. ago "I don't value my personal life, why should you get to value yours" I just feel sorry for your boss, tbh. Must be miserable to he him.
    via greenwoodgiant
  • 17
    Economy-Fault9410 OP 21 hr. ago He's definitely on some sort of struggle bus. Dude is the ultimate brown-noser to his boss and would do anything to appease her 11 Reply Share ThomsonWoods 20 hr. ago Also, this is another example of when I think fist fighting someone is justified.
    via Economy-Fault9410
  • 18
    Ok-Disaster6587 23 hr. ago Unlimited pto might be the biggest scam in the US workforce. Run fast from any job where this is framed as a perk. The actually meaning is pto is absolutely limited, at the discretion of a manager, but not in writing. It also is simply a method to not carry the liability of unused PTO, that has to be paid out to employees when they leave the company.
    via Ok-Disaster6587
  • 19
    Large-Client-6024 . 1 day ago Hey Boss, I bought my tickets after you approved my time off. I will be taking my 3 week trip. The only debate here is if I come back to work here, or move on to the competitor down the street.
    via Large-Client-6024
  • 20
    AngeliqueRuss 21 hr. ago "Unlimited PTO" is such a scam. When you bank PTO it is paid out when you leave, and this liability can be expensive on any company's balance sheet. By switching to "Unlimited PTO" they don't have to pay out when you leave, but you don't end actually up taking more time off due to corporate norms. ENJOY YOUR 3 WEEKS OFF
    via AngeliqueRuss
  • 21
    Brompton_Cocktail - 23 hr. ago I remember when I moved across the country and requested two weeks PTO to set up everything (house, utilities, new drivers license etc) and was denied that PTO after it was previously approved. I also had unlimited pto. Unlimited PTO is a scam.
    via Brompton_Cocktail

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boss worker employee manager job work coworkers working vacation time ceo employees PTO supervisor workplace Reddit denied company coworker business vacation
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