No, it's not – but it can be abused. It basically just comes down to your relationships and performance at work, especially with your direct reports and/or mana

No, it's not – but it can be abused. It basically just comes down to your relationships and performance at work, especially with your direct reports and/or manager. Here's it working: As a manager, my reports know they don't even need to give me a reason why they need PTO – indeed, I ask them not to tell me. We have sufficient trust that I know they're going to do their jobs and won't take PTO at, say, a critical juncture. Likewise, they know this about me, and so don't abuse the unlimited PTO. Here's it not working: when reports take advantage of it, which manifests in regular weekly "I'm taking the day" over and over, often in excess, and at times when it impacts their co-workers. Likewise, when managers say "I know we have unlimited PTO buuuuuut I need you come in..." and the reason given is a bullshit one. Trust is reciprocal.