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’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Feb 23, 2025 7:00 PM EST

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 as a preferred
source 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.

  • "Unlimited PTO is a scam."
    via Hans Isaacson For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • "My ‘unlimited’ PTO policy is ruining my life. What do I do to stay sane while I look for another job?"

    I 1 (27F) work for a very intense tech startup with an "unlimited" PTO policy. I took last Friday off, had this Monday off as a company holiday, and planned to take tomorrow off.
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • Last Friday, I wound up getting pulled into an urgent project and worked 80% of the day. This past Monday, it was a "company wide holiday" but all my coworkers were online and working anyway,
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • which made me feel forced into working since people were slacking me asking for things, so I was online all day on Monday. I
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • was just informed today I have to join a call at 10 AM tomorrow morning. I am losing my mind because I haven't taken a real day off in many months.
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • Cheezburger Image 10471286528
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I know I could dig my heels in and insist I take the day off I put in to take off, but this will only hurt my standing with the company. Our company CEO works 7 days a week and those who overwork
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • themselves are rewarded, while those who take time off are penalized. They don't say this is why people are being let go, but I recognize the patterns. My boss is amazing but he also is forced
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • to work on his days off and can't really help me. In fact, he's supposed to be off today and responding to messages as we speak
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • my I love the work I do. I like coworkers. I work from home. I make great money. I know this isn't a healthy work life balance, but I'm not having a lot of luck in this job market and leaving feels like the wrong decision.
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • What do I do to set boundaries and stay sane in the meantime without losing my job? I'm thinking about rescinding some of the hours I already took off just so they're not recorded as days
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • off. But I am really not sure what else to do. This is starting to affect my health after two years and I am worried I won't find a new job before I totally burn out
    via Wegmansgroceries
  • xtc46 This has nothing to do with a PTO policy and everything to do with the org culture of not respecting PTO (and your inability to hold that line out of fear).
    via xtc46
  • LanEvo7685 I'll work as hard as the CEO if I have as much ownership % as the CEO.
    via LanEvo7685
  • Normal_Donut_6... Unlimited PTO really means no PTO. It's just a scam.
    via Normal_Donut_6700
  • b1gb0n312 Turn off computer at 5pm the day before you take pto. Don't install any company communication app on your phone.
    via b1gb0n312
  • fisher101101 Unlimited PTO is just so they dont' have to pay it out when you quit in states where that is required.
    via fisher101101
  • LakeKind5959 turn your out of office message on and don't respond. That's the only way to get people to respect boundaries.
    via LakeKind5959
  • Eco605 Take the pto. Tell him you need a day off. You are a human, not a robot. And then shut everything off. I promise you this company doesn't care about you, and will replace you in a minute. Take the pto.
    via Eco605
  • sjgokou 1. Unlimited PTO is a scam. 2. Your CEO is not working 7 days a week. They pretend to keep you in the office working. I know this type of person.
    via sjgokou
  • While they are taking the family to Disneyland and going on vacation. They are on their mobile device off and on, randomly taking conference calls here and there. Overall 1~2 hours tops. UNLESS hes literally in the office grinding. A CEO grinds his employees.
    via sjgokou

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

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