PTO - three little letters that carry so much meaning. After health insurance and more flexible hours, paid time off is one of the most important benefits to job seekers, according to a recent study from Fractl. It shouldn’t sound surprising since a decent paid time off policy contributes heavily to employees’ work-life balance.
There are a lot of questions that surround your paid vacation days, from whether you should take off at all to the best time to request PTO. So whether your organization has an unlimited PTO policy, or you’re counting your accrued days each month, here are some basics for making the most out of your paid time off - while still being a good employee.
To take or not to take, that is the question
Calm down, Hamlet - the answer’s simpler than you think. (Hint: take time off!)
So why take time off? The number one answer is your mental health. Constant and consistent days, weeks, and months of working in a row can frequently lead to burn out - mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Thankfully, taking some time off from work to recharge ourselves can have several beneficial effects:
Burnout means decreased productivity, poor performance, and high stress. Our productivity comes from our mental energy, which also determines how focused and organized our brains are. When our mental energy is regularly depleted, there’s a simple solution - recharge! 64 percent of people are “refreshed and excited to get back to my job” after a vacation. Unplugging - and I mean unplugging, not checking your work email hourly - lets you rest and recharge. While you’re on vacation, whether in the Caribbean or only in your house, your brain works in different ways that allow it to reset - so you can come back to work ready to succeed.
Beyond burnout, working without a break can also lead to heightened levels of stress and anxiety. Even if it’s not a full vacation, one mental health day - maybe even a regularly scheduled day once a quarter - can help lower stress and re-energize your outlook toward work. So either way, you choose to take your time off, make sure you’re planning enjoyable activities that will help you either work out stress or relax it away - not increase it further!
Related: Is Unlimited PTO Right for Your Company?
Taking some time off work can help you refocus on elements of your personal life - your relationships, your hobbies, your dogs. Who you are as a person is made up of many elements, both in your work life and your personal life. If you’ve been overly obsessed with work lately, take a step back from your job to take it all in and re-energize your pursuits. You’ll feel more balanced, in control, and ready to attack your work with renewed vigor when you return.
Decision made - you’re going to use your vacation days! Break out the margaritas! But before you book that plane ticket, let’s talk about some best practices for planning and requesting time off.
“Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.” - Will Cuppy
While different organizations may vary in terms of their specific protocol, there’s an etiquette to requesting time off that you can apply in most situations.
This one comes up in particular whenever you’re starting a new job with a new company. Every organization has its official vacation policy, of course - but it will also have its attitude towards actually taking time off, which may or may not align with the official policy. It’s important to take some time to gauge your new company’s culture and understand the best (and worst) times to take your PTO.
Technically, according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), companies are not legally required to offer paid time off or vacation. Obviously, if your benefits include a certain amount of paid time off, it’s your right to take it - but let’s approach this with a little grace, shall we? Present your time off request as an actual request, rather than a demand. It’s possible the days you’re requesting may present a huge problem for your team, or that your manager needs you in the office on one of those days. Recognize that requesting time off is a conversation, not an edict - and choose a good time to approach your manager with the request, with enough time in advance to adequately plan for your time out of the office.
This goes along with the previous piece of advice. Work with your manager when requesting approval for time off to make sure all bases are covered while you’re gone. Is an important deliverable due that day? Will you potentially miss a huge meeting? Discuss your plans with your manager to make sure that your requested days are a good time for you to take off. Plan to get ahead on projects and have everything lined up before you go, and make sure that you have a backup plan in place for a coworker to cover you if something comes up.
Everyone earns their time off, but no one likes that person that consistently leaves their coworkers in a lurch. Do you always request time off at the busiest times of the year? Are you the one who always takes a vacation on the same holidays, leaving your coworkers to work? This point comes down to common courtesy - don’t regularly leave your coworkers in a situation to pick up the slack at bad times. Working with your manager will help avoid this, too!
Can’t get enough PTO talk? Check out our podcast for more discussion on vacation policies and PTO etiquette with HR Director Rebecca McCormick and the Viventium Voices crew!
This information is for educational purposes only, and not to provide specific legal advice. This may not reflect the most recent developments in the law and may not be applicable to a particular situation or jurisdiction.
Viventium Software Inc. is a SaaS-based human capital management solution that provides a remarkable user experience and award- winning software. Viventium provides flexible software and expert guidance so clients can be sure their payroll is done right.
Viventium offers specialized solutions in the health services markets which include home care agencies and skilled nursing facilities. Viventium Software supports all fifty of the United States with payroll and HR solutions.
Relax – you’re with Viventium.
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Licenses: Viventium HCM LLC NMLS ID: 2094503
Overtime, oh, it’s a complicated game, Different rules in every state, it’s never the same, Multiply by 1.5, but there’s more to see, In this overtime equation, it’s not that easy, you see.
VERSE 1
In the world of work, there’s a tale to be told, About overtime hours, and the payroll gold, A consistent paycheck, that’s the worker’s dream, But when it comes to overtime, it’s not as easy as it seems.
PRE-CHORUS
Oh, Susie worked hard in San Francisco town, But the rules around overtime, they had her feeling down, 42 hours this week, she gave her all, Now it’s time to calculate, let the numbers fall.
CHORUS
Overtime, oh, it’s a complicated game, Different rules in every state, it’s never the same, Multiply by 1.5, but there’s more to see, In this overtime equation, it’s not that easy, you see.
VERSE 2
Exempt or non-exempt, the title they hold, Where they work, where you’re based, it’s all in the fold, California or New York, the laws they diverge, For payroll admins, it’s a never-ending surge.
PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
Overtime, oh, it’s a complicated game, Different rules in every state, it’s never the same, Multiply by 1.5, but there’s more to see, In this overtime equation, it’s not that easy, you see.
BRIDGE
But here’s a method that can save the day, A payroll software, to keep errors at bay, Input the info right, integrate with ease, No more manual labor, no more overtime fees.
VERSE 3
Back to Susie’s story, she’s owed her due, According to FLSA, it seems we have a clue, $860 on the table, that’s what we’d say, But California’s got its rules, changing the way.
PRE-CHORUS
Oh, California says, hours past eight, Are overtime-eligible, don’t underestimate, Now Susie’s owed $900, that’s the decree, In this overtime puzzle, you gotta set it free.
CHORUS
Overtime, oh, it’s a complicated game, Different rules in every state, it’s never the same, Multiply by 1.5, but there’s more to see, In this overtime equation, it’s not that easy, you see.
OUTRO
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ENDING
Don’t overwork yourself, don’t you fret, With Viventium by your side, it’s a safe bet, Relax, you’re with us, in this overtime fight, With the right tools in hand, everything’s gonna be alright.
Take back time, like a winding clock, Retroactive pay, mending every block. Calculate the hours, with precision and grace, In the world of care, in this payroll space.
VERSE 1
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PRE-CHORUS
A caregiver tired, at the week’s end, Forgot to log hours, a mistake to mend. Admins face the challenge, calculations to make, To set it right, for the caregiver’s sake.
CHORUS
Take back time, like a winding clock, Retroactive pay, mending every block. Calculate the hours, with precision and grace, In the world of care, in this payroll space.
VERSE 2
Manual calculations, prone to a flaw, Dealing with shifts, odd hours, and the law. As your business grows, the cost takes flight, Automated solutions, shining bright.
PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
Take back time, like a winding clock, Retroactive pay, mending every block. Calculate the hours, with precision and grace, In the world of care, in this payroll space.
BRIDGE
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VERSE 3
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PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
Take back time, like a winding clock, Retroactive pay, mending every block. Calculate the hours, with precision and grace, In the world of care, in this payroll space.
OUTRO
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VERSE 1
In the world of business, we all aim to thrive, Year after year, our dreams taking flight. But as we soar higher, we start to see, More money, more problems, just like B.I.G. Outgrowing our shell, it’s an exciting phase, But it brings with it some challenging days. Solutions we had, now show their flaws, As we push the boundaries, breaking through the walls.
CHORUS
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VERSE 2
Employees across states, in different localities, Tax laws aplenty, creating complexities. Our old software’s limits, we’ve begun to see, Scaling up our business, we need to break free. Calculating pay and taxes, where it all begins, Errors in this process, lead to countless sins. Employees rely on us, trust in our might, To withhold what’s needed, get it just right.
CHORUS
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BRIDGE
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VERSE 3
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CHORUS
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OUTRO
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REPEAT CHORUS
Geo Tax, oh Geo Tax, our savior in the night, Guiding us through tax laws, shining a bright light. No more payroll worries, no more sleepless nights, With Viventium’s help, we’ll be alright.
Configurable Payroll Grids, a helping hand in sight, In the realm of admin life, where details are rife. With custom views and filters, they navigate through the night, Let’s celebrate this feature, it’s the heart of our work life.
VERSE 1
In the world of admin tasks, where changes often arise, There’s a tool that’s been a savior, under office fluorescent skies. With flexibility and precision, it eases their daily strife, Let’s sing about this feature, it’s the pulse of our work life.
CHORUS
Configurable Payroll Grids, a helping hand in sight, In the realm of admin life, where details are rife. With custom views and filters, they navigate through the night, Let’s celebrate this feature, it’s the heart of our work life.
VERSE 2
Admins wear many hats, in their daily grind, Sometimes they need to adjust, leave no errors behind. Adding extra hours, bonuses, or fixing pay, They need a simple method, to make it all okay.
CHORUS
Configurable Payroll Grids, a helping hand in sight, In the realm of admin life, where details are rife. With custom views and filters, they navigate through the night, Let’s celebrate this feature, it’s the heart of our work life.
BRIDGE
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VERSE 3
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CHORUS
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OUTRO
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VERSE 1
In the world of payroll, a daily task we face, Admins work hard, in this complex space, They handle policies, with attention and care, But there’s a solution that’s beyond compare.
PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
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VERSE 2
Standardize policies, that’s the key, For tenure, role, union status, you’ll see, PTO, bonuses, pay rates defined, Automation makes your workload more aligned.
PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
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BRIDGE
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VERSE 3
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PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
Rule-Based Automation, it’s the name of the game, Less manual toil, less stress and shame, With policies and standards, we’ll pave the way, To automate your chores and brighten your day.
OUTRO
So if you’re a payroll admin, feeling the weight, Let Viventium’s Rule-Based Automation be your fate, No more worries, no more strife, With Viventium, you’ll transform your work life.
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VERSE 1
In the world of business, it’s a complex game, With factors and figures, it’s never the same. Decisions are key, they’ll determine your fate, So listen up closely, don’t be a bit late.
PRE-CHORUS
Gather your data, don’t let it fade, In the depths of spreadsheets, don’t let it cascade. Your HCM software, is it up to the task? To capture and store, to help you unmask.
CHORUS
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VERSE 2
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PRE-CHORUS
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CHORUS
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BRIDGE
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CHORUS
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OUTRO
So remember this lesson, in the business terrain, It’s all ’bout decisions, don’t let ’em wane. With data as your guide, and Viventium’s grace, You’ll conquer the challenges you’ll face.
