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My understanding is that the way they converted to unlimited PTO was by paying out people's vacation time with a one time payout. In which case, they didn't lo

My understanding is that the way they converted to unlimited PTO was by paying out people's vacation time with a one time payout. In which case, they didn't lose benefit at all

opportune 4y ago
They lost it going forward, and also lost any kind of arbitrage when paired with salary increases. Eg my accrued vacation is “worth” 10% more after a 10% salary bump than before it.
- bialpio 4y ago
  It also serves as a nice buffer when you are switching jobs - you can take the PTO and still be employed (& so covered by health insurance for a bit longer, and stocks are still vesting), making for a nice break from work.
  - ironick09 4y ago
    So you have unlimited PTO, what’s stopping you from taking a vacation.
    - bialpio 4y ago
      Discretionary <> unlimited, so the answer to your question most likely will be: "my manager". Edit: props to Microsoft for not being scared to call the policy by its true name.
Arnavion 4y ago
The payout will be in the April paycheck, but hopefully the layoffs will get it at layoff time.
heleninboodler 4y ago
When my company switched from accrued to unlimited PTO, the way they did it was to tell everyone that until their balance got down to zero, they needed to report their time off. So if you quit before you got your balance down to zero, you had it paid out, but most people probably just burned through their balance within a year or so and the liability was gone.
- throwaheyy 4y ago
  Wow, that’s shitty. Because you could simply have taken the same time off under unlimited PTO as by burning down the accrual, the company effectively zeroed out accrued vacation time. I’d be pissed that happened to me.
  - heleninboodler 4y ago
    I mean, in real terms, I've come out way ahead since I get a lot more PTO now and probably wouldn't have cashed much (if any) out when quitting regardless. If the alternate was to keep my measly PTO allowance but still get the possibility of cashing it out someday when I quit, I am definitely happier this way.

My understanding is that the way they converted to unlimited PTO was by paying out people's vacation time with a one time payout. In which case, they didn't lose benefit at all

opportune 4y ago

They lost it going forward, and also lost any kind of arbitrage when paired with salary increases. Eg my accrued vacation is “worth” 10% more after a 10% salary bump than before it.

bialpio 4y ago
It also serves as a nice buffer when you are switching jobs - you can take the PTO and still be employed (& so covered by health insurance for a bit longer, and stocks are still vesting), making for a nice break from work.
- ironick09 4y ago
  So you have unlimited PTO, what’s stopping you from taking a vacation.
  - bialpio 4y ago
    Discretionary <> unlimited, so the answer to your question most likely will be: "my manager". Edit: props to Microsoft for not being scared to call the policy by its true name.

Arnavion 4y ago

The payout will be in the April paycheck, but hopefully the layoffs will get it at layoff time.

heleninboodler 4y ago

When my company switched from accrued to unlimited PTO, the way they did it was to tell everyone that until their balance got down to zero, they needed to report their time off. So if you quit before you got your balance down to zero, you had it paid out, but most people probably just burned through their balance within a year or so and the liability was gone.

throwaheyy 4y ago
Wow, that’s shitty. Because you could simply have taken the same time off under unlimited PTO as by burning down the accrual, the company effectively zeroed out accrued vacation time. I’d be pissed that happened to me.
- heleninboodler 4y ago
  I mean, in real terms, I've come out way ahead since I get a lot more PTO now and probably wouldn't have cashed much (if any) out when quitting regardless. If the alternate was to keep my measly PTO allowance but still get the possibility of cashing it out someday when I quit, I am definitely happier this way.