‘Always take your PTO’: Employee quits while having 100 hours of unused PTO, expects to receive payout in last paycheck, only to get paid $1 per hour

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 3, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

For some unknown reason, there are employees who do not feel the need to use all of their PTO. They are fine with their PTO just sitting there, not being used for what it is meant to do – give people a break.

I am a firm believer that PTO is there to be used, and I don't think I ever let a year pass by in a company without using all of the time off I am entitled to. For one, because how can a person go through an entire year without taking time off? And second, because letting it just sit there is a recipe for trouble.

Take the employee in this Reddit story for example. OP (original poster) left their job without using any of the PTO they had, which amounted to almost 100 hours. Assuming it would show in their last paycheck, OP expected a payout out of those unused PTO hours, but instead, they learned their employer had only paid them a dollar per hour, compared to the $20 an hour they usually make.

Scroll down to read the full story, that even went on in the Reddit comments after people offered their piece of mind on the situation. After you are done reading that, click here for a story of an employee who decided to quiet quit, but told their boss about it.

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  • 01
    1111
    via Peopleimages.com - YuriArcurs
  • 02
    I quit with 100 hours of PTO. They changed my hourly rate to $1 a hour.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 03
    I quit my job, I put my two weeks and fulfilled it. I left on good terms, never really used my PTO, so I thought I would have a nice paycheck after I quit. Only to find
    via SupremeWraps
  • 04
    out my 100 hours of PTO was not my hourly rate of $20.50 and a hourly rate of $1 per hour. Just a friendly reminder to use your PTO. I would have used all my PTO before I quit :(
    via SupremeWraps
  • 05
    ← 12:01 Details Jun 21, 2024 Pay YTD 610 Compare Past Statements Gross Regular Bonus HOLIDAY PAY Overtime Pto Payout Sick Taxes Take Home $86.62 ✓ View statement ✓ Expand All $100.21 $100.21 -$9.58 ● Retirement -$4.01 Take Home $86.62
    via SupremeWraps
  • 06
    elgav91 3d ago I wouldn't be surprised if changing your hourly wage upon leaving is legal, but it would at least need to be changed to the federal minimum wage which is 7.25
    via elgav91
  • 07
    SupremeW... OP • 3d ago Edited 3d ago Okay let me re-word this a bit and hopefully more people understand. I live in AZ, employers here are not legally required to pay out PTO.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 08
    I quit with 100 hours of PTO. They technically did not change my hourly rate to $1.00 then payout my PTO. They gave me my 100 hours of PTO at a $1 per hour. They are not legally
    via SupremeWraps
  • 09
    required to pay me any of the PTO. It was more of an act of good graces to do that for the employee. Yes, it sks, and I should have paid more attention to the policy/hand
    via SupremeWraps
  • 10
    book. I will keep a look out for that in the future. Also I will forever use my PTO before I quit another job in AZ. Edit: Since people are still getting confused.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 11
    Okay let's change some words around. They paid me $0 in my PTO, in AZ, they are not required to pay me any of my PTO. Instead, think of it as a bonus. How they figure out how much my bonus is,
    via SupremeWraps
  • 12
    is how much PTO I had left before I quit. In this case I had 100.21 hours of PTO. So my bonus would be $100.21. They paid me $0.00 of PTO.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 13
    ABO the-apple-and-omega • 3d ago Sadly, it is what it is. No, it really isn't. Why in the world would you just accept this.
    via he-apple-and-omega
  • 14
    SupremeWraps OP • 3d ago Idk why I am getting downvoted. I contacted HR and they said it's correct. I am no way able to fight legally the richest people in my state that attend the country club
    via SupremeWraps
  • 15
    and are board members of it. Yes, it's around $2,000 I would get, but in my opinion I am barking up a huge tree to get that money.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 16
    angels_10000 • 3d ago The labor board will fight them for you!
    via angels_10000
  • 17
    equationgirl 3d ago. It's not correct. Please speak to a labour attorney in your state. I think you potentially might even get more depending on any penalties they would have to pay. Please, I beg you, at least talk to a lawyer. Please.
    via equationgirl
  • 18
    tokin_ranger • 2d ago With you refusing to do anything about it, it's further enabling them to sow every person after you over too. At least try to do something about it. Obviously their own HR is going to agree with the company. That is the point of HR.
    via tokin_ranger
  • 19
    AlisonChained 2d ago The company I was laid off from at the beginning of the year was supposed to pay me out for my PTO. They also still haven't paid for January. I sent it to the labor board. They now owe me $14k and the state another $7k.
    via AlisonChained
  • 20
    Dear_Studio_7989 • 3d ago I do payroll for a living. Have you called them? Seems like they put the hours in the amount spot by accident? I've never heard of lowering the rate, definitely seems like it was an error. Hope you get your money!
    via Dear_Studio_7989
  • 21
    SupremeWraps OP 3d ago Sadly, it is what it is. This "place" is pretty much the top 3 country clubs in the state where I live. The initiation fee to join is over $300,000 with a wait list lasting years. The rich know how to stay rich.
    via SupremeWraps
  • 22
    Healfezza 3d ago I understand what others have said, you mentioned AZ having use it or lose it, so they technically may not owe you PTO.
    via Healfezza
  • 23
    But there is a caveat here, if they coded it as 100hours at 1/hr, rather than saying they owe you nothing they just broke the minimum wage laws. Go after them for that at least.
    via Healfezza
  • 24
    fugawf 3d ago This is why you ALWAYS TAKE YOUR PTO. Burn that up. Live your life man! For contrast, I've used over 100 of my PTO hours already this year and will be spending the remainder scattered across the rest of the year for kayak and hunting trips
    via fugawf

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job tales-from-the-workplace time off reddit story ceo PTO workplace Reddit company quitting paid time off
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