DSA HR Solutions

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Clients
    • Events
    • Resources
  • Solutions
    • HR Assessments
  • Benefits of Outsourcing
  • Training
    • Safety & Risk Management
    • Harassment Prevention Training
    • Management Training Series
  • HR News & Tips
  • Contact Us
    • Members Login
  • (707) 361-5385
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Clients
    • Events
    • Resources
  • Solutions
    • HR Assessments
  • Benefits of Outsourcing
  • Training
    • Safety & Risk Management
    • Harassment Prevention Training
    • Management Training Series
  • HR News & Tips
  • Contact Us
    • Members Login
  • (707) 361-5385

Pros and Cons of Vacation versus Paid Time Off (PTO)

7/3/2018

 
Picture

​By Debbie Amaro
​
Traditionally, employers offered separate paid time off benefits to employees, such as paid vacation, sick leave and personal days.  However, in the past decade, many companies have moved to a more flexible Paid Time Off or “PTO” benefit that incorporates all policies into one all-inclusive PTO plan. The debate as to whether employers benefit from offering PTO versus separate vacation, sick and personal leave plans is constantly being researched.  In an effort to assist employers in making an informed decision in this regard, below are some advantages and disadvantages of combining the company’s separate paid time off benefits into a single Paid Time-Off (PTO) plan.
 
Advantages of a Paid Time Off Policy (PTO):
  • Employees are not incentivized to lie about being sick or having a doctor’s appointment in order to use all of their annual sick days, resulting in more transparency in the employee/employer relationship.
  • Research consistently illustrates that incorporating a PTO policy will result in employees taking more vacation time and less sick days. This benefits employers in two ways; first, employers typically receive more notice about scheduled vacations, affording more time to plan for adequate coverage.  Second, most mental health professionals agree that employees return to work more refreshed and productive following vacation leave.  The same results do not hold true for employees utilizing sick days.
  • Employees tend to value the flexibility that PTO provides.
  • Employers only have to track PTO hours, as opposed to separately tracking hours for vacation, sick and personal days.

Disadvantages of a Paid Time Off Policy (PTO):
  • Employees are more likely to consume all of their PTO, whereas they may not have expended all of their sick or personal days in the past.
  • Employees tend to save all of their PTO time for vacations and come to work when they are sick, at times causing illness among other employees.
  • In some states, (like California) all earned PTO must be paid out upon separation of employment.  Whereas earned sick leave is not required to be paid out.
 
Reporting Requirements
Regardless of the policy you implement, it is important to educate yourself about the mandatory reporting and notice requirements. Some states, such as California, require written notice be provided to employees every pay date with the employee’s payment of wages that specifies the amount of paid sick leave available, or paid time off leave that an employer provides in lieu of sick leave.
​
If you need a partner to help you evaluate the best time off policy for your company or with any other HR matters please reach out to us at info@dsahrsolutions.com or (707) 361-5385

    Author

    We are a team of certified HR experts based out of the San Francisco Bay Area that provides HR consulting services to businesses nationwide.

    Categories

    All
    Advice For New Managers
    California Harassment Training
    California Sick Leave Law
    Conflicts In The Workplace
    COVID-19
    Employee Handbooks
    Gender Neutral Bathrooms
    HR Best Practices
    HR Laws
    Minimum Wage News
    Office Gossip
    Office Romances
    Outsourcing HR
    Overtime Laws And Pay
    Prop 64 Marijuana Act
    PTO
    Sexual Harassment
    Workplace Diversity

    RSS Feed

    Contact Us Today

Our Company

  • Solutions for Your Business
  • ​Benefits of Outsourcing
  • ​About DSA HR Solutions
  • Harassment Prevention Training
  • Management Training
  • Safety & Risk Management Services
  • Our Blog
  • ​Resource​​s

Contact Us

1440 Military West, #202
Benicia, CA  94510


info@dsahrsolutions.com
Tel:  (707) 361-5385

FAX: (707) 361-8868
Picture
2019 Benicia Business of The Year

Picture
Website by EnlightWorks                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Copyright 2020 DSA HR Solutions | All Rights Reserved |  Privacy Policy