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I once had a company ask everyone to sign updated employment contracts that changed the vacation policy to "unlimited PTO". So I opened up my original contract

I once had a company ask everyone to sign updated employment contracts that changed the vacation policy to "unlimited PTO". So I opened up my original contract and compared them... and wouldn't you believe it? There were other changes in the contract: they'd added non-compete and non-solicit clauses, and tweaked the IP language to make it broader. I talked to the company lawyer to ask for an explanation, and they became very embarrassed and they walked back all those changes, claiming that they'd used a new law firm and this happened because that firm had used their "standard boilerplate". They sent everyone a new copy with just the PTO change. Of course, then I refused to sign the updated one, because I'm a jerk who thinks "unlimited PTO" is a scam. :)

kelnos 5y ago
> Of course, then I refused to sign the updated one, because I'm a jerk who thinks "unlimited PTO" is a scam. Unlimited PTO is only a scam if you are a) bad at taking care of yourself, and b) have a shitty manager. I've been taking every other Friday off since last summer, and in addition to that take 4-5 weeks off during the year (a week or two at a time). Hasn't been a problem because I get my work done, and I have a manager who understands we all need downtime to be healthy (and productive). In my experience, most of the people who end up taking less time off when their company switches unlimited PTO are just bad at taking care of themselves, and (incorrectly) believe they'll be penalized for taking time off.
- Jiro 5y ago
  Incorrectly believing you'll be penalized is still the company's fault, because you're going to be penalized at some point and the company is hiding what that point is. Taking the PTO becomes a gamble. Nobody would accept a job where the company told you "well, it's unlimited pay. Just tell us when you need some money and if it's not unreasonable we'll give it to you."
- leetcrew 5y ago
  I don't think unlimited PTO is necessarily a scam, but it's only a benefit if you're a highly productive employee that takes more than 15-20 days off per year. there is one major downside of unlimited PTO. I don't take very much PTO. maybe I should, but I don't (and especially haven't during quarantine). as a result, I am pretty close to maxed out. whenever I leave the company, I will get an additional check for one month's salary. with unlimited PTO, I would get nothing.

kelnos 5y ago

> Of course, then I refused to sign the updated one, because I'm a jerk who thinks "unlimited PTO" is a scam. Unlimited PTO is only a scam if you are a) bad at taking care of yourself, and b) have a shitty manager. I've been taking every other Friday off since last summer, and in addition to that take 4-5 weeks off during the year (a week or two at a time). Hasn't been a problem because I get my work done, and I have a manager who understands we all need downtime to be healthy (and productive). In my experience, most of the people who end up taking less time off when their company switches unlimited PTO are just bad at taking care of themselves, and (incorrectly) believe they'll be penalized for taking time off.

Jiro 5y ago
Incorrectly believing you'll be penalized is still the company's fault, because you're going to be penalized at some point and the company is hiding what that point is. Taking the PTO becomes a gamble. Nobody would accept a job where the company told you "well, it's unlimited pay. Just tell us when you need some money and if it's not unreasonable we'll give it to you."
leetcrew 5y ago
I don't think unlimited PTO is necessarily a scam, but it's only a benefit if you're a highly productive employee that takes more than 15-20 days off per year. there is one major downside of unlimited PTO. I don't take very much PTO. maybe I should, but I don't (and especially haven't during quarantine). as a result, I am pretty close to maxed out. whenever I leave the company, I will get an additional check for one month's salary. with unlimited PTO, I would get nothing.