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Discussion

Using PTO to work part time

A few of my coworkers and I were discussing the idea of using our built up PTO to take a day of PTO each week and effectively work part time. Have any of you considered doing or actually done this? I'm not sure that I would actually do this, but it sure is nice to think about when I'm feeling particularly frustrated or overworked.

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    My sister (not a nurse) works for an employer that doesn't allow her to carry any vacation time over into the new year, so, for the last several years, she has scheduled herself to be off every Friday in November and December. She really enjoys it. I try to take a three- or four-day weekend (take Friday or Thursday-Friday off; I work a Mon-Fri schedule) at least once each month -- it's good for my mental health, haha -- but haven't gone farther than that because there are other things for which I'd rather use my PTO.

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    When I worked full time and had lots of PTO, I just requested to be first cancel pretty much every day that I worked. After a while, I didn't even need to call. Staffing knew I was always willing to take the day off.

    I work per diem, now. It's probably a better fit for me.

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    One of my co-workers used this idea to get through the last semester of NP school. Worked great for her!

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    Mr. MaryJean (not a nurse- God forbid!) has huge amounts of PTO he must use. He takes every Monday off from October-Christmas. I then make plans to be away from home every Monday from October through Christmas. This is because: I work from home. He begins each and every one of these Mondays with "What are we going to do today?" to which I respond "Dunno about you, I'm going to do what I do every Monday".

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    We get less pay than most hospitals in our area but great benefits, including very generous time off. The problem is you can only use PTO if staffing allows, or on your pre-approved annual vacation weeks.

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    I was having problems at a job and had plenty of built up leave time, (enough to lose at the end of the year). I started to take a day here and there, which made things more tolerable, and then when it was time to transfer, put in for all of the remaining leave at once. I started at the new location early. The old job knew why I was leaving so early; I didn't care as long as my leave was approved.

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    • Expert

    I have been doing that for the past year. Since I earn approximately 1 day of PTO every pay period ... and I have the maximum amount of time saved up in my PTO bank ... I have to "use it or lose it." So I take a PTO day every pay period.

    Overall, I love it. But there has been a downside for me.

    When I started doing that last year, I was working full time. Seeing that I was able to get my work done on less time each pay period (I am not in a staff nurse position), my employer reduced my hours. So now, I am not quite full time and that has caused me to lose income. But I am still at the maximum amount of accrued PTO and still in the "Use it or lose it" situation. I still have to take a day off every pay period. So now, I actually work even fewer per week and make a little less money.

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    When I lived in England we'd get 4 weeks PTO a year, and worked one week of 7 nights on followed by 7 nights off. I put my nights off together and used my PTO...for a while I was only working half the month and traveling to New York every month or so.

    These days I save my PTO days for my NP clinicals. I need to use at least one a week for the last two semesters. Luckily my manager is very accommodating and I can use my PTO whenever I want. I plan on using a few days this summer so I can have a few long weekends through the months of July and August so I can enjoy the weather and take my Harley out for a few rides.

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