Is unlimited PTO as good as it sounds?

Hi friends! I can’t believe the first day of summer is tomorrow! Which is the perfect reminder to check out our Summer Fridays guides for your city, and don’t forget to add your own favorite summer spots in the comments! I need new recs and I wanna run into you at your favorite coffee shop.

Tuesday music: Feels Like Summer! I’m getting major ~last day of school~ vibes today, even though I just got a 9am meeting slapped on my calendar for tomorrow. LOL H.A.G.S.!

—Rod

Is Unlimited PTO All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

For someone who prefers to book future vacations while still on their current vacation, the words “unlimited PTO” sure do have a nice ring to them. But is the favored vacation policy of your friend’s cousin’s startup really a perk? Welcome to this WorkDaze investigation into unlimited PTO.

The basics: Small startups were among the first to introduce the concept of unlimited vacation days. Today, about 4% of companies in the U.S. offer unlimited PTO, including some big ones like Netflix, Bumble, and LinkedIn.

In theory: Unlimited PTO allows workers to take time away from their jobs freely. It’s vacation, on your terms and whenever you want it.

But in practice: This reeks of “we’re a family here” in a job description—arguably code for phony benefits designed to keep you at your desk. What makes us say that?

• Unlimited PTO policies can sometimes result in employees taking less time off than they would with a fixed number of vacation days.

• ”Unlimited” PTO is in the eye of the beholder. Companies can limit the number of people out at the same time, cap vacation length, and dictate timing so your trip doesn’t interfere with major projects.

• Without a set number of paid days off, your company is off the hook for paying you out for any accrued vacation days if you decide to leave.

Like parental leave or “free soup on Fridays,” unlimited PTO is a work perk that’s only worth it when it’s done right. When it is? Good things happen in the recruitment and retention, employee satisfaction, and company-wide productivity departments.

But if a company is going to have unlimited vacation days, it needs to ensure that the policy is successfully integrated into company culture. Some green flags to look for that’ll let you know a company is doing unlimited PTO right?

1. The hiring manager gives you clear expectations about PTO. Take it from Netflix CEO Reed Hastings: "In the absence of a written policy, every manager must spend time speaking to the team about what behaviors fall within the realm of the acceptable and appropriate."

2. The company enforces a minimum number of days off. This will ensure that a future team cares about curbing burnout and encouraging rest.

PTO PSA! Your mental health matters more than your work. Unlimited or not, make sure you’re using the PTO you’ve been given. There’s no perfect attendance prize for the workplace (and if there is…🚩). Whether it’s for a group vacay or just one day on the couch rewatching The Simple Life, take the time you need to recharge.

Things to Slack your work besties

…before heading to the nearest patio for a “work meeting” at 1 pm.

Yesterday was Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the freeing of all enslaved Black people in the U.S. in 1865.

• To learn more about Juneteenth’s historical significance, check out the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s official page.

• For a list of 50+ movies and TV shows about the Black experience curated by newsletter writer Hunter Harris for Apple TV, go here (weekend plans: acquired).

• And if you’re interested in learning how you can engage in some mutual aid, check out this post from Myisha Hill of Check Your Privilege.

I’m currently eating one of these as I type this and get chocolate all over my keyboard. These chocolate-covered strawberry yogurt clusters may just be my new favorite SOS (snack of summer). What other recipes should I try? Send ‘em my way!

The smaller shopping cart at the grocery store is now being dubbed the “millennial grocery cart” because of its accessibility, convenience, and ability to limit overspending. Hasn’t stopped me from dropping a whole paycheck on Trader Joe’s breaded cheddar cheese curds, but I appreciate the vision.

Thanks for reading! Wishing you a fun week without any stress. See you back here Friday for some more Qs and As!

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod