At first glance, unlimited PTO sounds like a dream. Just imagine: two-week vacations every few months to faraway destinations and long weekends spent staycationing in charming towns or lounging at the beach.
That does sound like a dream. But it’s not always reality.
The truth is, unlimited PTO isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Vacation requests can still be denied, there’s no payout for unused time if you leave the company, and there’s often a vague understanding of how many days you can take off before you look less committed to the job than your coworkers.
I’ve worked with both a traditional and unlimited PTO policy and experienced the pros and cons of each.
At the end of the day, I love an unlimited PTO policy, but that’s because I’ve learned how to set expectations, plan strategically, and maximize my time off.
Here's how to follow my lead and make unlimited PTO work for you, and all your planned travels.
In this article
Avoid Vacation Guilt by Chatting With Your Manager About Expectations
One of the biggest challenges of unlimited PTO is mitigating “vacation guilt.”
Without a set number of vacation days promised to you, many people end up taking less time off than they would under a traditional policy.
Surveys show that workers with unlimited PTO often use fewer vacation days because they're unsure what's considered the norm.
I remember facing that exact dilemma when I started a job with unlimited PTO. I didn’t know how much vacation my coworkers were taking, and out of fear, I erred on the side of caution and took fewer days than I could have.
That changed when I started having candid conversations with my manager and coworkers and set a general expectation for how much time to take each year.
If your company offers unlimited PTO, don't be afraid to ask questions. Talk with your manager about what's encouraged, learn how far in advance vacations should be requested, and see how your team handles time away.
If you can get this in writing, even better. The clearer the expectations, the easier it becomes to actually use PTO without wondering whether you're taking "too much" time off.
Block Vacation Time on Your Calendar Before You Need It
One downside of unlimited PTO is that there's no calendar reminding you to use your days before you lose them. Without a timeline, it can be easy for your dream vacation to Greece or Australia to remain stuck in your Instagram saves.
And when it sometimes feels like you didn’t earn the PTO, it can be all too easy to let vacation opportunities pass by.
One important lesson I learned is don’t be afraid to block time off on your calendar far in advance instead of waiting until all the variables are aligned and the perfect trip is planned.
At the beginning of each year, I try to block off one or two weeks on my calendar for longer trips. I’ve been lucky to have managers who didn’t mind if those dates shifted, as long as it was a few weeks in advance. Once I knew I had days blocked off, I was motivated to start planning my vacation.
Even if you haven't booked flights or chosen a destination, reserving vacation time creates a commitment. Then you can start the planning process.
Use Downtime in Your Work Schedule to Your Advantage
On the flipside, unlimited PTO gives you flexibility to be spontaneous.
If you've wrapped up a major project, your workload is temporarily lighter, or your team's busy season has passed, consider using that window for a last-minute getaway.
When I met my goals the first month of the quarter, it was an ideal moment to lean into my unlimited PTO policy. I chatted with my manager, picked three days to take off, and left the next week for a camping trip in Colorado.
So whether it's a long weekend in a nearby town, a train trip, or a last-minute flight, unlimited PTO might position you to take advantage of shorter trips.
Quieter periods can be the perfect opportunity to maximize unlimited PTO and head off on a vacation before the next busy season begins.
Remember: There's No Payout if You Leave, So Take the Vacation
One of the biggest downsides of unlimited PTO is that it leaves you with nothing to cash out if you leave your job.
With traditional PTO policies, workers often receive payment for unused vacation days when they resign. Unlimited PTO, on the other hand, generally doesn't work that way because no vacation time was technically accrued.
If your employer offers unlimited PTO, think of taking time off as part of your compensation. It’s not a perk you should feel guilty for using.
This was something I constantly reminded myself of when I had unlimited PTO. Each year, I made sure to use the work perk. I spent weeks in Italy with friends and long weekends exploring state parks.
And when I was ultimately laid off, I didn’t receive a payout, but I did feel confident that I maximized my unlimited PTO. Taking the time while you have the opportunity is the only way to fully benefit from an unlimited policy.
The Shortcut
Ask your manager directly what's considered a normal amount of PTO. Without that benchmark, most people end up taking less time off than they're allowed.
Block vacation time on your calendar before you have a destination in mind. Committing to the dates first is what actually gets a trip planned.
There's no cashing out unused PTO if you leave the job, so treat every day you don't take as compensation left on the table.
