this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2023
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[–] [email protected] 25 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Disagree. Any form of "unlimited" time off gets heavy scrutiny. I'd rather have a generous PTO policy than an unlimited one.

That said, it's distopian that anyone needs to send proof of being sick. That's a symptom of a really toxic work culture.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Maybe I've been lucky but in 10+ years of unlimited sick time, I've never been questioned about sick days.

Vacation time I think needs a minimum if you're going to do unlimited, otherwise people aren't sure what to take and may take less.

The worst policy I ever worked under was "limited sick days. Unused sick days get paid out as a bonus at the end of the year". So everyone came in sick to get that sweet two weeks pay at the end of the year.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Yeah, that's awful.

I much prefer a fixed amount of PTO to "unlimited" mostly because the culture of companies that offer unlimited seem to discourage actually taking time off, which can lead to burnout. Obviously every company is different, but I'd much rather have a decent fixed amount of time off vs something where I'd feel guilty for abusing it. I currently get like 3.5 weeks, which is pretty decent for my field, and I'll get a bump to 4.5 weeks in a couple years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I've heard tale of places that add the unused sick days to your retirement

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Vacation time I think needs a minimum if you're going to do unlimited, otherwise people aren't sure what to take and may take less.

There's no such thing as unlimited time off.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (2 children)

There are places that state they have "unlimited vacations" but I expect they will fire you if you take too many days off. A friend of mine has all the Fridays in the year off, plus the regular vacations.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Then it's not unlimited and I'd rather just know how much time I can take off, than wondering if I'm skirting the limits.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

I totally agree that it's better to know in advance. But that's part of the strategy it seems, you're too afraid to push it, so you get too few

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't think a place like that exists I think OP's friend is just lying to them to excuse why they got fired. I've never heard of a company with unlimited holidays but then fire somebody for taking them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Nah, ey were not fired (yet?) and I also worked there before unlimited vacations became a thing, so I kinda think they may went that way. As was said somewhere around this comment with unlim you can guilt/fear your employees into working more and then not pay them unspent days.

Edit: clarity

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Where is this? What is the point in guilt in your employees to work in longer hours when you can just contract them to work longer hours perfectly legally?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (2 children)

I think the benefits to the company of "unlimited time off" are

  • they don't have to pay out unused time off if the person leaves
  • they don't have to keep track of it as closely
  • sometimes people take less time off, so they get more working hours out of people
  • it looks good on paper to applicants
[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

they don't have to pay out unused time off

Many companies don't do that even with fixed time off: see every company I ever worked at.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Interesting! I grew up in WA and currently live in UT, and neither require it, though my dad had his paid out when he retired (company policy).

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Exactly

Also, I guess there are some fine print conditions like you get less bonuses if you're not working enough, or you're only eligible after working for some time. But that details I don't know

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

In a third world, not EU or US, surely. The contracts and obligations are treated differently there

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I don't know where these places are but pretty much every company will have a minimum number of hours you need to work a year (they usually define this as the maximum number of holidays you can take a year rather than the number of days you actually have to work, but it works out the same way) and they'll tell you what those are, they can't expect you to just guess.

For example i can take a maximum of 21 holiday days a year + however many days I am sick + national holidays.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Maybe although I am sure they have a very sketchy contract as they don't adhere to regulations anyway

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

This depends entirely on where the world they are

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There is if you work at a decent place - or in a decent country.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

There is nowhere in the world that has it forever time off. You have a certain number of days you can take but there is no such thing as you can just take whatever you want. That doesn't exist anywhere on earth. Do you think it does please link me to it.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

It is very common for places to offer unlimited time off. They don't mean literally you can take every day off and still get paid. Typically you still need to get your job done.

Similar to how many jobs have free snacks in the kitchen, but if you went and ate everything in there you'd probably get a talking to. Or most jobs let you go to the bathroom whenever you need, but if you sat on the shitter all day every day it would be a problem.

This kind of thing involvea people, not a video game or genie you can trick.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Right. Those with unlimited PTO take off only what they need, and not the strict number they get. Those with a set amount end up finding time to take off. It’s why companies moved over to “unlimited”. That, and the fact they don’t need to pay out your vacation when you leave.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago

No, they usually avoid taking time off even if they need it, because they get guilted into thinking it wouldn't be approved or something, or that they'd be passed up for a promotion. Employers do it because it's better for the company, not for the individual.