What happens to your PTO

Nurses General Nursing

Published

When you quit? Does it go away or do they pay you for what you have accumulated?

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Specializes in CEN, CPEN, RN-BC.

At my last hospital, I was paid my entire PTO in one lump sum about a month after my last day.

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Be sure to give your 2 week notice or they might not pay you. I got a nice lump sum.

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Specializes in ICU, Acute Dialysis, Telemetry/Stepdown.

Yep, most places will not pay out your PTO if you leave without notice.

When all is good, then you get it all paid out in one check. You'll have to look up your employee manual/policies to see what your employer does for sure.

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When I give my notice they are going to be angry, but not suprised. I know they wont have me finish my two weeks, but I plan to give it. The last two people that gave notice left the directors office crying after she screamed at them. I will not be crying. I will probably smile all the way home and then have the best sleep of my life. I am trying to hold out as long as I can, I have an interview next week. I feel like it is easier to find a new job while you have a job.

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My doctor's office that I work at pays it out in a lump sum. You must give proper notice, 2 weeks or 4 weeks depending on your position.. and you can't call out sick or take any days off within that time frame.

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

My company does not pay PTO when you leave because, "You don't earn it until you use it." ???? Once you give notice, you can not use PTO either. What we don't use by the end of the year (June), we lose. You cannot carry over any hours. (Many people have worked there for a long time and have a bank of hours which was previously allowed.) Fortunately, I have never been denied a request to use PTO so I always take the last couple days of June off. (I told my supervisor since I am not allowed to carry any over and I need to keep some in case I get sick towards the end of the year, I will take off whatever I have left the last week.)

Does it annoy me? Not much. I wish we could carry over a week or two in case of illness but I love my job and I love the company I work for. I have great co-workers. To me it is not a big issue.

BTW, I think some states may require that you are paid for PTO when you leave. Obviously, my state does not.

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Specializes in neurology, cardiology, ED.

I used to work someplace that froze your PTO the moment you gave notice, and definitely did not pay it out to you after you left. I would check with HR, and get a policy in writing if at all possible...

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Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

We get paid for it if you give a 2-week notice. If not, our policy states you forfeit any PTO. We are allowed to carry over 40 hours to January. I actually have over 100, but my DON approved me to carry it over since I'm taking a week off starting January 3. Also, my hubby is sick and I wanted to have some hours "in the bank" just incase I need them.

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

When I resigned from my former job, I received all the PTO that I had accumulated up until that point. It came in the mail around the time I got my last paycheck in the mail (or at the same time - can't quite remember).

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

You most likely won't get paid for your sick time, and won't be allowed to use it once you give notice. So, be sick before you give notice. :) I lost something like 9 days of sick time twice when I left jobs. I was not happy! I feel you should benefit somehow if you do not call off. You should get your vacation time in a lump sum if you give a proper two week notice. or, take a vacation to use some up before giving your notice. MAKE SURE you not only give your nurse manager/don your written notice, but also HR so that your nurse manager can't say you didn't give proper notice and deny you your pto. :idea:

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Specializes in L&D, OB/GYN clinic.

I would recommend that you check the policy from HR. My hospital will pay half of your PTO, if you give proper notice. The other half is forfeited. You may no longer donate PTO to coworkers either. If you die, the full PTO balance is paid to your heirs. (I had to ask because I was undergoing treatment for breast CA. My husband has ALS and I will be sure he is cared for if something happens to me. I currently have 9 weeks saved. I would have been very upset if he lost half of it because I died.)

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