Be wary of "Unlimited" PTO claims. They could be a trap.
Interclypse
On a continuous mission to have a positive transformational impact on society, community, industry, and individuals.
Unlimited leave is a popular carrot to dangle in front of talent in the IT industry today. The concept is enticing. Take as much leave as you want whenever you want for whatever reason. This could be revolutionary for employee work/life balance…
… if most people actually took advantage of it.
According to a March Fortune article* “50% of workers in the U.S. would prefer access to unlimited PTO to earning a higher salary”. A surprising statistic in the IT field where higher salaries tend to be the deciding factor in employment. While unlimited PTO sounds like a godsend in a post-lockdown world, Americans that have it either take less time on average or end up “working” on vacation.
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Unlimited PTO requires an office culture that values and encourages its use. Employees may be free to take all the time off they want, but if they feel pressured not to, they end up taking less time off than their earned PTO contemporaries. Insider** found that 30% of Americans with these benefits “always” work on their time off. Where an employee with earned PTO is likely to plan and take time away with intention, those without this incentive are likely to feel pressure to work/check emails/answer calls while away. This negates the beneficial effects of time off to relax and rejuvenate.
Another criticism is the loss of payouts for unused time off. Workers who leave positions that offer unlimited PTO lose the benefit of that payout when unused time off no longer exists. This can leave some professionals in a lurch if they are forced to make a quick or unamicable exit from their current company.
Liberal PTO policies do have positive impacts on employee performance and morale, but unlimited PTO is a nuanced benefit that requires commitments from both the employer and the employee. Whether it is a company not adopting a culture that values rest or employees feeling pressured to appear productive over taking time for themselves, unlimited PTO often causes more headaches than it relieves. Instead, you should look for companies that match your values. To achieve the best results from your time away it is best to connect with employers who value work/life balance and the value of personal pursuits that allow their employees to grow as professionals.
Interclypse employees take an above average 31 days (over 6 weeks) of PTO from day one. Our team enjoys everything from car racing weekends, to rock climbing trips, to traveling the world and they are encouraged to do so. PTO makes up just one part of our industry-leading benefits. To learn more, check out our website: https://interclypse.com/working-professional or speak to an Interclypse employee yourself.