Does your employer charge you for PTO?

Updated:   Published

I work for an LTC facility that pretty much charges for pto. This is the first time I’ve heard of this. I actually worked for an assisted living facility for 9 years before company sold the property and we did not lose money for pto.

I'm sure your wonder what I mean by paying for pto. This companies starting wage is $35hr but if you want pto your wage will have to drop to $33.50hr. This is were it gets interesting if you want PTO and Benefits your hourly wage is $32.

With a hourly wage of $32 your annual salary would be

Gross Income$66,560.00

Take Home $53,650.46

With an hourly wage of $35 your annual salary would be

Gross Income$72,800.00

Take Home$58,040.30

The take home between the wages is a $5,000 different. I think this policy is outrages. And to top it off the benefits that they offer still come out of your check every two weeks. I feel as it they are forcing you not to want benefits and pto.

Please share your opinion on this !

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
3 minutes ago, klone said:

So if you want to take time off, do you just take it unpaid?

Without PTO you wouldn’t be able to take personal time off at all. Unless you call out or have someone switch days with you. The DON explained that to me during my interview.

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
6 minutes ago, klone said:

Is it not online for anyone to access?

6 minutes ago, klone said:

Is it not online for anyone to access?

Unfortunately no online access this Ltc is not up to date. We don't even have direct deposit because they say its too expensive. Same for nursing no online software or access to nursing policies without having to scavenger hunt around the nursing stations.

Specializes in oncology, MS/tele/stepdown.
On 6/10/2019 at 11:11 AM, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Unfortunately no online access this Ltc is not up to date. We don't even have direct deposit because they say its too expensive. Same for nursing no online software or access to nursing policies without having to scavenger hunt around the nursing stations.

No direct deposit? Are they aware it is 2019?

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
13 minutes ago, Swellz said:

No direct deposit? Are they aware it is 2019?

I asked myself the same question lol

Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
37 minutes ago, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Without PTO you wouldn’t be able to take personal time off at all. Unless you call out or have someone switch days with you. The DON explained that to me during my interview.

And why did you take this job again?

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

I'd be having a chat with my friendly neighbourhood Labour Board. This place is pulling shenanigans. No written policy? No direct deposit? They're trying to create as little paper trail as possible so they can't be held accountable for dishonest practices. Are they not legally bound to provide you with a certain number of days vacation for number of days worked?

Likely if they get called on the pay-for-PTO scheme, they'll suddenly classify you as a per diem employee and magically produce the document that says so. Do you have any document that says otherwise?

Do you even get a cheque with a stub or just envelopes with cash? I'd be keeping tight tabs on what I'm supposed to be making and I'd be making sure the cheque (or envelope) isn't short on payday. These people are not to be trusted.

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
6 minutes ago, klone said:

And why did you take this job again?

Im a recent nursing graduate i just one the job because of that without realizing the red flags.

On 6/10/2019 at 11:06 AM, Lovethenurse2b25 said:

Without PTO you wouldn’t be able to take personal time off at all. Unless you call out or have someone switch days with you. The DON explained that to me during my interview.

I don't think these people are going to be able to produce a written policy saying these things; they're making stuff up as it suits them. ?

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
8 minutes ago, TriciaJ said:

I'd be having a chat with my friendly neighbourhood Labour Board. This place is pulling shenanigans. No written policy? No direct deposit? They're trying to create as little paper trail as possible so they can't be held accountable for dishonest practices. Are they not legally bound to provide you with a certain number of days vacation for number of days worked?

Likely if they get called on the pay-for-PTO scheme, they'll suddenly classify you as a per diem employee and magically produce the document that says so. Do you have any document that says otherwise?

Do you even get a cheque with a stub or just envelopes with cash? I'd be keeping tight tabs on what I'm supposed to be making and I'd be making sure the cheque (or envelope) isn't short on payday. These people are not to be trusted.

No i did not receive an offer letter at all. They do provide a paper pay stub. Im so disappointed because im seeing so many red flags about this place. My sister in law told me to put in my resignation letter also because all of the unit managers are lpns. They sit at the desk during care plans and putting in Drs. Order will i pass meds all day and I'm an RN.

Specializes in CCRN, Geriatrics.
On 6/10/2019 at 11:53 AM, JKL33 said:

I don't think these people are going to be able to produce a written policy saying these things; they're making stuff up as it suits them. ?

I agree. HR keeps avoiding me, I stopped by her office several times she keeps saying she’s busy.

You need to leave that place. They are shady, shady.

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Think of it the other way around.

The pay is $32 per hour, with PTO and benefits. If you don't want the benefits (e.g. through hubby's job), you can omit them and get some of that money added to your paycheck -- making $33.50 per hour. If you also don't want the PTO, you can eliminate that too and get $35.00.

They are not really charging you for the PTO & benefits, they are not making them mandatory -- and giving little bonuses to people who choose not to get PTO or benefits.

I used to work for a hospital that did that and no one thought anything bad about it. In fact, when the hospital switched to that system, it was very popular. Each employee got to tailor their pay and benefits to what best suited them. It was called a "cafeteria plan" of benefits and was a "hot new thing" back in the 1990's. We were all paid a base rate ... and then there was an additional amount allotted for benefits. Each year, we chose which benefits we wanted to receive -- "spending" money from that additional amount to our share of the cost of that benefit. What we didn't spend on benefits was added to our paychecks. So in the end, we were all paid the same -- just some took it in benefits, others took fewer benefits and more cash. Not everyone needed/wanted health insurance, dental, retirement program, etc.

As a single woman, I chose the benefits because it was cheaper to get those things through work than to purchase them on my own. A lot of married folks got insurance through their husband's job, so they chose to forego the health insurance and keep the cash.

+ Join the Discussion