PTO

[SidyJean]

So at my job we have a PTO cap of 180 hours. After you hit 180 hours you cannot accrue anymore, so we lose out on 6-8 hours a pay period. I've called in once in the last 3 years. I do request days off from time to time for events and vacations. The problem I am running into is that even if I take off 6 days, say Wednesday through Monday, I am still unable to use my PTO because I am scheduled 40 hours or more prior to and immediately after those 6 days off. My facility does not cash out PTO unless a person is ceasing employment. To be able to use PTO I would have to take more consecutive days off or make sure that all requested days fall in the same week. On average, myself and the other nurses, are losing $150-200 a pay period due to the PTO cap and inability to use the PTO. Has anyone else run into this? Any advice?

[Heylove, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

My employer just sent out an email a few weeks ago changing our cap from 200 to 72. I am so mad, I can barely even talk about it and I wasn't going to say anything on allnurses but I saw this post. In the same email, we were told that if we take more than four days off (scheduled or unscheduled) in a six month period, we will forfeit our weekend option. I was sitting on 126 hours. Sure, we can cash in to get down to less than 72 hours, but then we are taxed like crazy for money that we've earned and I would rather have the time off than the cash. I'm not sure this was thought all the way through.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I am at my hospital's PTO cap, too. And I hate the thought of losing it. So I now take a lot more time off than I used to. In fact, I am now become quite "spoiled" with my schedule. When I have to work a full week, I feel so bummed out. I've gotten used to working short weeks!

Staffing is management's problem, not yours. Take your PTO by learning how to request it properly. Don't feel guilty if they have trouble finding a replacement for you. They can hire someone else.

[shiftingtides]

My employer just sent out an email a few weeks ago changing our cap from 200 to 72. I am so mad, I can barely even talk about it and I wasn't going to say anything on allnurses but I saw this post. In the same email, we were told that if we take more than four days off (scheduled or unscheduled) in a six month period, we will forfeit our weekend option. I was sitting on 126 hours. Sure, we can cash in to get down to less than 72 hours, but then we are taxed like crazy for money that we've earned and I would rather have the time off than the cash. I'm not sure this was thought all the way through.

I'd be looking elsewhere for work. That is BS on so many different levels. I'm sorry you're dealing with that.

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

I realize, perhaps, that wasn't worded the best. I will work approximately 48 hours starting at 0000 Sunday to 0700 Wednesday. I'll be back to work on a Tuesday at 1800 and put in another 40+ before Sunday rolls around.

You seriously work 48 hours in less than 3 1/2 days and still think your job is great? The staffing problems there go way beyond the ability to use down accrued PTO if that's the case.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

me no understand....just take more days off. Its your own fault for capping out and not being able to acrue more. Unless of course they wont approve time off. But you know how much you accure, so plan ahead and just book some days off here and there ahead of time. Problem solved. Time off is a good thing.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

"The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem" . You have paid time off. You can use it if you are sick, you can use it for a vacation, you can use it any time.

Mental health days are nice.

You've been brainwashed to not use it.

Ding ding ding! exactly. Im not sure why so many nurses think that staffing is their burden. So the DON has to cover for her. let the DON whine about you using your PTO which your entitled too. WHO CARES! They will get over it and also probably find more staff.

[Julius Seizure]

My employer just sent out an email a few weeks ago changing our cap from 200 to 72. I am so mad, I can barely even talk about it and I wasn't going to say anything on allnurses but I saw this post. In the same email, we were told that if we take more than four days off (scheduled or unscheduled) in a six month period, we will forfeit our weekend option. I was sitting on 126 hours. Sure, we can cash in to get down to less than 72 hours, but then we are taxed like crazy for money that we've earned and I would rather have the time off than the cash. I'm not sure this was thought all the way through.

Or maybe they thought it through and this is exactly the problem that they planned for you all have...

[neonn965]

Nope, I get the time off I request. I am just working 40 hours or more Sunday through Tuesday before my time off.

But that's not actually getting time off. I truly don't understand what is going on here. If you are working your full time hours Sun-Tues, then what are they paying you any PTO for? That's how I take "vacation" when I'm not actually using any PTO. Sun-Tues and then Thurs-Sat the following week. I have 8 days off, take no PTO, and work my full-time hours. Basically, the cap is annoying but you just need to use your PTO. How much PTO are you able to schedule per year? We can schedule up to 144 hours per year. There's a difference between requesting days off and having them off, and then using PTO.

[klone, MSN, RN]

But that's not actually getting time off. I truly don't understand what is going on here. If you are working your full time hours Sun-Tues, then what are they paying you any PTO for?

I think the OP misunderstood my question. She's NOT getting paid PTO (Hence her concern with the PTO cap). She said she's getting her time off requested, but she's not because they're just moving her shifts around, rather than actually giving her scheduled time off.