Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO) sounds like a dream, right? Take as much vacation as you want, whenever you want. But here’s the dirty little secret: it’s a trap. Instead of lounging on a beach, employees are shackled to their desks, terrified of taking time off. It’s time to call out this corporate scam and mandate vacations for the sake of sanity.

The Unlimited PTO Con

Companies dangle unlimited PTO like a juicy carrot, but when employees reach for it, they get smacked with the stick of workplace reality. The result? Employees take even less time off. A study found that workers with unlimited PTO take an average of 16 days off per year, barely more than the 14 days taken by those with traditional policies (shrm.org). Another report revealed that employees often limit their own time off, sometimes taking far less than the standard two weeks (jopwell.com).

Why Unlimited PTO Backfires

• Ambiguity Breeds Anxiety: Without clear guidelines, employees are left guessing how much time off is “acceptable.” Fear of overstepping invisible boundaries keeps them chained to their workstations.
• Corporate Culture of Guilt: The unspoken expectation is to always be available. Taking time off becomes a sign of weakness or lack of commitment, especially when leadership doesn’t lead by example.
• No Accrual, No Payout: With unlimited PTO, there’s no accrual of unused days, meaning employees lose out on payouts for untaken vacation when they leave the company.

The Real Solution: Mandatory Time Off

If companies genuinely care about employee well-being, they need to enforce time off. Here’s how:

1. Set Minimum Vacation Requirements: Require employees to take at least three weeks off per year. Make it non-negotiable.
2. Lead by Example: Executives and managers should take their full vacations and unplug completely, setting a precedent for the rest of the company.
3. Normalize Disconnecting: Create a culture where taking time off is celebrated, not frowned upon. Encourage employees to fully detach from work during their breaks.
4. Track and Reward Time Off: Monitor vacation usage and reward teams that fully utilize their allotted time, reinforcing the importance of rest.

The Bottom Line

Unlimited PTO is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It promises freedom but delivers guilt and burnout. To protect employees from themselves—and from toxic corporate expectations—companies must mandate meaningful time off. It’s not just a perk; it’s a necessity for a healthy, productive workforce.