Hi everyone,

Our facility is thinking about switching to 'paid time off" versus the standard accruing of sick days and vacation time. For those of you that do the PTO thing...can you explain a little bit about it..i.e: how many days you get, pros and cons, etc. I'm just undecided as to if I like the whole idea or not. I think it's fine for those that are never sick....but unfortunately...I have chronic endometriosis that forces me to use more sick time than I'd like and I end up having surgery at least once every two years. Do you guys have an "emergency day" bank as well for unexpected illness or surgery? Thanks so much everyone for the input..I look forward to your responses..:kiss

I love PTO. We get up to 60 days (480 hours) a year depending on length of service (60 is the max for those with 15 years or more of employment). We can also carry over any unused days to the following year(s) to a max of 720 hours or 90 days. Also we have an extended sick leave plan for hospitalization or extended illness which kicks in after you use 7 PTO days. The best thing about it, I feel, is that it cuts down on people calling in sick just to call in especially when they realize PTO is not just days off for sick and they are cutting into their vacation or holiday time off. And, in California, it is considered earned time so when you quit you are paid off in full for any unused time.

Agree with previous post, love our PTO system. One thing to watch out for is when they do the conversion that the numbers remain the same. The total days off in old system equal total days off in new.

It also needs a relatively decent amount of carry over from year to year.

Our PTO is paid into your PTO account every payday, and the accrued amount is reflected on the paycheck. The amount depends on length of service. If you need to take PTO (vacation, sick time, etc) you get it approved by your manager first. Your paycheck shows how much PTO was used. Taxes are taken out only when you "use" PTO. We also have Extended Illness time for people who need to be off longer than one week at a stretch. The first week is PTO, then EI kicks in. EI accrues like PTO, but you are not allowed to use it except for special circumstances (like your illness). If you leave the facility, PTO will be paid 100%. EI is a use-it-or-lose-it thing. Once a year you may "sell" PTO to the facility for a discounted price (usually 75%), but you must keep 40 hours in your PTO account in case you get ill. I recently donated some PTO hours to a nurse whose child is ill, forcing her to be off longer than what her PTO account would pay her. She is not eligible for EI time for someone else's illness, only hers. Hope this helps! I like the system because it is flexible. I often use PTO one day at a time to visit grandbabies.