Substitute teacher refuses to donate her limited PTO to full-time staff who used up theirs, even though she barely gets any benefits herself: ‘I was told I was being inconsiderate and need to be more helpful. Like what?’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Nov 13, 2025 7:00 PM EST

So get this: The school district wants substitute teachers to donate their PTO to full-time teachers who ran out of theirs. Yeah, the same subs who don't get benefits, don't have job security, and have to fight for every paid hour. It's like asking the people in the budget seats to cover the VIP section's bar tab.

The district calls it being "helpful." Because nothing says teamwork like guilt-tripping the lowest-paid workers into giving up the one perk they actually have. But in reality, these subs are the ones showing up every morning to cover for teachers who didn't leave lesson plans, holding together classrooms powered entirely by chaos and dry-erase fumes. But somehow they're the inconsiderate ones.

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  • AITJ cause I refuse to donate my PTO

    Frustrated teacher sitting alone at a desk in front of a messy chalkboard, resting her arms and puffing her cheeks in exasperation after a stressful school day
    via Nicoleta Ionescu

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • So now being a “team player” means giving up the one scrap of stability a sub gets. The district keeps sending out those cheerful emails asking substitutes to donate their PTO to full-time teachers who’ve burned through theirs. It’s like asking the guy living paycheck to paycheck to chip in for his boss’s vacation fund.

  • Edit- thank you everyone, I really do appreciate all the opinions and thoughts. So many have asked why I would tell a coworker about whether I donate or not- bottom line- I want them to fight for better benefits.
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  • I want them to know the honest truth- that we all deserve better. Official long term teacher or sub, or any other job-we deserve better.
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  • So thank you all for confirming what I feel. You all rock. Edited for a Thank You!
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  • Been dealing with this issues for years and I'm hoping maybe someone can assure me that I'm not a j ..
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  • Frustrated teacher sitting at her desk with a laptop, resting her face on her hands in exhaustion. Math formulas cover the whiteboard behind her
    via SistersStock

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • My district awards PTO to subs, which is what I currently do. We are limited on how many days we can use in a year, but can save up like twice the amount we could use in one year, depending on how much we work.
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  • We can not use the PTO unless we are already on the books for an assignment and have to call off last minute.
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  • I've had to use it several times over the years, and have banked the time I haven't used, for school years I don't work as much so that I have it just in case.
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  • In the last couple of years, the district has started sending out emails asking for people to donate their PTO because another employee has maxed out their hours on "catastrophic leave".
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  • This means these employees used up every bit of the PTO they had and can't come back and should probably utilize FMLA or whatever other emergency leave program is offered.
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  • Exhausted teacher sitting at her desk in front of a chalkboard, eyes closed and hands on her temples, showing signs of classroom stress and burnout.
    via Nicoleta Ionescu

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Instead, the districts wants the subs to donate theirs. I always refuse. I was asked recently about how many hours I've donated and explained that I haven't, as I'm not eligible for the other emergency programs that full time employees are, so I save mine just in case.
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  • I was told I was being inconsiderate and need to be more helpful. Like what? Who do you think is covering for the teachers that are out, usually with no freaking lesson plans when the teacher is gone long term?
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  • This isn’t about kindness. It’s about the district avoiding responsibility. Instead of fixing their broken leave system, they send out a “please donate” email and hope the guilt fairy does the work. It’s cheaper than hiring help or expanding benefits, so why not?

  • How is that not helping out right there? I have to twice as many hours to get my PTO as well.
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  • So really? AITJ because I won't give up the one benefit I get from my job?
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  • R2-Scotia Getting employees to donate PTO to each other is a very American scam. If more PTO is needed, company needs to step up, not the staff.
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  • What I personally love about this is how quick people are to moralize when they’re not the ones struggling. The folks with steady paychecks are telling the subs to “share.” Easy to be generous when it costs you nothing.

  • OP Glittering-List-465 That's what I think too. I got crazy sick when I was on a long term assignment and had to use 5 days of it. Had I donated my days like was being asked, I would have gotten zero to make up for it. And at that point in time, I was working full time to save up for replacing my house furnace that had d d. Because of how often we get paid, I would have had to wait another month to have the money, if I hadn't had my PTO to use.
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  • UFO-Band-Fanatic I've seen this as well. My employer offers short term dis ility insurance for less than $10 per paycheck. It kicks in when an employee has exhausted all their leave and will run until long-term dis ility insurance goes into effect. My annual leave hours pay out upon separation. I'm not inclined to subsidize someone else's decision to decline short term dis lity insurance at very reasonable rates.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 Completely agree. I don't know if that's an option for full time regular employees here, but if it is, then I think it should be used too.
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  • traciw67 Ntj. The next time someone asks that, ask them why they're asking. Then tell them that that info is private. Or just ignore them all together.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 I usually tell the truth because I think the policy needs to be changed. Just cause I'm a sub doesn't mean I don't deserve the benefit I earn. My hope is that if enough people stop this trend, it will force the district to change their PTO stuff.
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  • Careful-Self-457 FMLA does not pay you when you have exhausted PTO. It just covers your job so you don't lose it. You are NTJ for not giving up your time though.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 This is true, but I think they can apply for other types of assistance as well.
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  • Ima-Bott No one should be asked to, or donate time earned. And OP is getting screwed, with the limitations their company puts on its use.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 I think the restrictions are in place because I'm a sub. I can see why it wouldn't make sense to use pto for days I'm not already scheduled.
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  • BildoWarrior6 Who asked you? Not that it matters. It's nobody's business. NTJ.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 A full time teacher. I'm always honest that I don't donate and why. I think they need to push for better benefits instead of counting on other employees to cover such.
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  • Aggressive_Power_471 NTJ but when someone asked "I would have said my personal information is not your concern."
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 I normally am that way, but I won't lie- I am really hoping that by being open about refusing AND why, that they will put pressure on their union to negotiate better for them/us. I'm willing to deal with the attitudes if it can lead to the change that we all need. If that can be changed for teachers, I'm hopeful it can change for others.
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  • Real-Cup8782 No is a complete statement. You do not owe an explanation to anyone
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 I agree. I just keep hoping by being honest that it will encourage the regular employees to fight for better benefits instead of relying on others to supplement their current ones.
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  • chartreuse_avocado You don't have an FMLA safety net? You take care of your own risk management and keep your stash. NAJ at all.
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  • OP Glittering-List-465 I personally do not as a sub.
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  • No_Interview_2481 NTJ never give up your PTO to anyone for any reason. You earned this time off.
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  • Saving your PTO doesn’t make you inconsiderate. It makes you someone who’s figured out how fragile the system really is. Because In today’s workplace, “helping out” usually means helping the people in charge sleep better at night.

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management workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr manager bosses work coworkers colleague PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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