PTO (Paid Time Off)
Workforce Management Glossary
PTO (Paid Time Off)
What is PTO (Paid Time Off)?
PTO (Paid Time Off) is the paid time off that employees accumulate during their employment with an organisation. It’s also called planned time off or personal time off.
Why is PTO important – and what can employees use it for?
Although it’s a legal requirement and also part of contractual benefits, PTO also provides employees with flexibility and autonomy. It’s an important benefit that workers are entitled to and that promotes work-life balance.
There are many reasons why an employee can request PTO and this is usually set out in company policies and their employee handbook. Broadly, it can be used for holiday, sick, or personal leave, but it isn’t the same as sick leave. In Australia, there’s no legal obligation for employees to tell their employer why they need to take PTO or what they’re using it for.
How can organisations navigate the complexities of requesting, monitoring, and managing PTO?
To avoid problems involving employees and PTO, organisations need to first establish sound policies. These set the guidelines for when and how an employee can request and receive paid time off work.
PTO shouldn’t be stressful, complicated, or daunting. Roubler’s robust workforce management platform empowers employees to request PTO from anywhere in the world. It also includes an online leave management calendar that gives organisations the oversight needed to make informed decisions.