Boss denies employee's leave because they've "used too much" of their "unlimited" PTO: 'I'm going anyways'

Author image for Brad Dickson
Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jul 14, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

Just when you think employers and managers might actually be instating policy with their workers' best interest in mind you find yourself, yet again, disappointed. As with anything in life, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is… and there's bound to be a catch. So, when you first hear that some employers are now offering "unlimited" PTO as an incentive for their workers, your first thought is "Wow, unlimited PTO, that's pretty neat! As long as I get my work done I can take as much time off as I want!" You might even apply for a role with this expectation while HR eggs on that expectation with a forced smile. 

However, this fantasy will quickly become a reality when you discover that you can't actually take "unlimited" leave. As it turns out, employers haven't suddenly developed an interest in maintaining a happy, motivated, and healthy workforce—with a passion for their work and lives driving productivity. No, the reality is that while you don't have a set number of days of PTO you do still need to get those days approved and if you take too much leave you're going to get flagged for a conversation with HR. 

Here's the kicker: Employers really only do this to reduce the company's liability of PTO, that pesky PTO liability that employers loathe and sometimes even decry for hanging over the overhead of their business. In a sense "unlimited" is really a fancy way of saying "You don't have a set number of leave days and so we can give you as many or as little as we want and we also don't have to pay you for it when you leave."

This worker discovered this when their boss denied their leave request because they were using "too much" of their "unlimited" PTO. The frustrated worker shared their experience with this online community, sparking discussion on the subject.

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    Boss is denying PTO simply because he feels I've used too much. We have unlimited PTO according to our company policy. Wife and I started talking about a road trip over Labor Day, how fun. All my current projects conveniently end a couple weeks prior, and no one else has taken any time off that week.
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    My boss says, well, we try and keep it to one week per quarter. You already took a couple days back in June and have already reserved a week in August. I don't think this is going to fly. I'm going anyways. This was your notice.
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    chompy283 2 days ago I don't understand the unlimited pto thing. I don't like vague undefined terms. Like oh it's unlimited but only if we approve it but don't expect to take more than 2 weeks off. It seems like a shady thing
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    Krewtan 2 days ago • It's a way to pretend they offer good PTO as a benefit without needing to pay out accrued PTO when the employee leaves the job. Unlimited PTO is a scam, they can simply not approve it, many places with it guilt their employees for asking to keep them from using it.
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    • troutdog99 2 days ago Correct. This "benefit" is entirely a financial trick to keep pto off the books as a liability. They attempt to spin it as a plus to employees, but it is not.
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    Nolanova 2 days ago . Like everything, it ultimately depends on the work environment. My job gives unlimited PTO and are very supportive of employees taking as much time off as they would like. Unfortunately I realize that is not the case at most companies with "unlimited PTO"
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    Charlie-brownie666 2 days ago unlimited PTO should mean unlimited PTO if it isn't unlimited, they should call it one week per quarter PTO
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    scobeavs OP 2 days ago • Right that's what I'm saying like no one mentioned that when I interviewed, interesting how that's a requirement now
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    • CuriousPenguinSocks 2 days ago I'm pretty sure the reason some jobs have gone to unlimited PTO is so they don't have to pay you out if they fire you or you leave.
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    Process252 2 days ago Yeah dude, that's the whole idea behind "unlimited PTO", so they can deny it whenever they feel like it. Jobs that advertise it are a massive red flag for me
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    CM_MOJO 2 days ago • No, the whole reason for 'unlimited PTO' is so that don't have to spend resources to track it and more importantly, they don't have to pay out unused PTO when an employee leaves. Unlimited PTO does not benefit the employees.
    via u/scobeavs
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    MollyGodiva 2 days ago • Unlimited PTO sounds like it is limited but they won't tell you what the limit is.
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    Cylon Belmont · 2 days ago • Previous place I worked at had "unlimited" pto. If you took more than 21 days off a year you were flagged by HR.
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    jjtrinva 2 days ago Can also reframe the conversation. If your performance is good (as you noted) then what's the issue besides perception? Offer to bring in HR to help clear up any "discrepancies" with the policy.
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    401kisfun 2 days ago The single reason unlimited PTO exists is so they do not have to pay out paid time off when someone leaves the company. Its basically wage theft.
    via u/scobeavs

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