“When did PTO become Part Time Off?”: 21 reactions from seasoned employees offering off-grid comebacks and advice

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Mar 31, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

In the quest to outdo the laws of physics, the corporate world has made a groundbreaking discovery: employees are not actually off when they're "off." It seems companies have established their own version of Newton's laws, but with a twist. Instead of gravity pulling objects towards each other, corporate gravity pulls employees towards their email inboxes, no matter where they are in the universe.

In this bizarre new physics, the laws of motion no longer apply. Objects (employees) can be in two places at once: on vacation and simultaneously checking work emails. This phenomenon is made possible by the invention of the "digital leash," a device so powerful it can stretch across continents and time zones, ensuring that no employee truly escapes.

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  • Meanwhile, the principle of conservation of energy has also been reinterpreted. While employees' personal energy dwindles with each email checked during vacation, companies seem to gain an inverse amount of control, absorbing all the energy spent on "out-of-office" responses.

    The most astonishing aspect of this new science is its law of disorder. It always increases unless acted upon by corporate forces. In this strange world, employee autonomy decreases while corporate control becomes all-encompassing.

  • 01

    "When Did PTO Become Part Time Off"

    "Stop working on your time off. Be unavailable. Set your boundaries"
    via Kaspars Grinvalds

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

  • So, will we ever find a way to defy these corporate laws of nature and enjoy PTO as intended? Or are we doomed to live in a universe where "time off" is just an optical illusion? Only time will tell, but until then, don't forget to pack your charger on vacation.

  • 02
    Generationally I feel like those of us that entered the workforce in the 90s got about 5-10 years of real PTO and then it all went to sh with digital leashes. Is there any way we will ever experience that again?
    via api_guy
  • 03
    MikeyLew32 Stop working on your time off. Be unavailable. Set your boundaries.
    via MikeyLew32
  • 04

    Pack a bathing suit and all of your responsibilities

    Cheezburger Image 10487848960
    via yacobchuk

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

  • 05
    MrBrawn I delete all company messaging apps and stop push notifications from email. If you don't set boundaries, nobody will.
    via MrBrawn
  • 06
    AbstruseAlouatta I fully support this. I strongly suggest doing this every weekend and night as well. Not only will it help your mental health, but it will also eliminate any surprises. Fair or not (it isn't) people get angry when things change. If you are ALWAYS available and then try to go on vacation, that's when I've seen managers get angry.
    via AbstruseAlouatta
  • 07
    Least Key1594 My boss will send us emails when were off, but if we reply she always (very supportively) goes 'You're on vacation quit checking work emai!' That is one of the many reasons, like rent and food, I have no intentions of leaving this specific job any time soon.
    via Least_Key1594
  • 08
    Important-Button-430 I don't take my work computer anywhere anymore. 000 says, I will not be reachable. Nobody has my personal number. Stop giving access to yourself.
    via Important-Button-430
  • 09

    An office away from office

    Cheezburger Image 10487849216
    via placebo365

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

  • 10
    Lieutenant_Horn This is why I always tell people I'll most likely be unreachable. They I activate an automated away message that says the same thing. Then I never answer any emails, phone calls, or text messages.
    via Lieutenant_Horn
  • 11
    robexib I work a job that cannot be done remotely and requires special licencing, so when I do take PTO, it's truly liberating that I can't do anything for anyone during, even if my direct superior does have my personal number.
    via robexib
  • 12
    Always make it clear that, during your PTO, you're going to be insufferably impossible to contact. Then do not answer when they call.
    via robexib
  • 13
    gargravarr2112 When I'm on PTO, I'm off the grid, as far as work cares. My immediate boss has my personal phone number for emergencies only, nobody else does. I don't check emails or IMs. I don't take my work laptop on holiday with me. If I'm on leave, I am not working. Draw the line.
    via gargravarr2112
  • 14
    Employers have been nibbling away at our self- control, cos 'it'll take a couple of minutes!' is just too tempting for a little dose of those 'I accomplished something today!' endorphins. Being permanently online with a communication device in your pocket at all times is what made the situation what it is today. At least in the 90s-00s, data plans were pretty brutal. Now everybody has a smartphone with data included, it's no big deal to just hop online wherever you are.
    via gargravarr2112
  • 15
    Cast off the digital leash when you're on your own time. Work the hours you're paid for and zero more. If work wants you contactable out of hours, they must provide you with a phone and on-call pay. Most will balk at that.
    via gargravarr2112
  • 16
    JulesDeathwish I just literally sign out of Teams and turn off my phone at the end of work hours. It's never been a problem.
    via JulesDthwish
  • 17
    Cheesy_DaBad PTO never became Part Time Off. You will experience proper PTO when you stop being a pushover.
    via Cheesy_DaBad
  • 18
    randomly-what I've never - ever - checked my email on a vacation. It stops when people stop being pushovers.
    via randomly-what
  • 19
    Ok_Opportunity2693 This only happens because you let it. When I'm on PTO I turn off my work phone and laptop. I'll deal with anything when I get back.
    via Ok_Opportunity2693
  • 20
    cliqclaqstepback Not me. When I'm off work, I am unavailable.
    via cliqclaqstepback
  • 21
    wet nib811 A big mistake rookies make is to have your cell service taken over by the company, so your personal cell becomes your company phone since they now pay for service. Always get a company phone.
    via wet_nib811
  • 22
    Itstotallysafe I have a work phone that tracks me. I'm salaried and my boss thinks that makes me accessible 24/7. My company is very against WFH. Sometimes it's necessary and so they record WFH dates and like to hold them against us.
    via Itstotallysafe
  • 23
    I love it when they try to reach me when I take PTO. My response every single time is "Are we changing my PTO to WFH?". Because if I answer, that means I worked, and being salaried means any amount of work counts as a day worked as far as my state is concerned. Free PTO day given back!
    via Itstotallysafe
  • 24
    Main-Yogurtcloset-82 My friend and her husband are in Spain on vacation. (We all live in the US). He had to call his boss because his coworkers and manager kept hassling him for work things. Like....
    via Main-Yogurtcloset-82
  • 25
    WorkdayDistraction You can decide to be unreachable as many here suggest, but the expectations on you are still there and if you don't meet them you're still responsible. I'm in sales so it's not acceptable for me to not call back a client for a week because I'm at the beach, or for any reason actually. Small price to pay to be digitally enabled to work from anywhere.
    via WorkdayDistraction

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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