7 Surprising Facts About PTO That You Should Know

The modern worker scrutinizes PTO more closely than ever before when deciding where to work. This trend is part of the larger conversation about work-life balance and mental health in the workplace. 

In what remains an employees’ market, workers are making it clear: employers need to spruce up their benefits to attract and keep top talent. Check out this list of ideas for making your PTO policy more attractive to candidates and current employers. 

PTO Facts and Stats

But before making any changes, read these 10 fascinating facts and statistics about paid time off: 

• The average number of paid days off in America is 10 yearly (not including paid holidays). Source: Zippia. It is industry-dependent (for some industries, that’s a drastically low number, and for others, it’s high) and seniority-dependent (employees that have been at a company for five years have a higher average). 
  
• 55% of Americans don’t use all of their paid time off. Source: Zippia. Studies show that, on average, employees with an unlimited policy take less time off than employees with a set amount of vacation days, meaning the work still gets done (even though the freedom is there). 
• 68% of employees believe flexible hours positively affect their teams. Source: Justworks. It may seem counterintuitive, but employees taking time off are more productive in the long term. Additionally, quality PTO programs help create a culture of respect, understanding, and empathy—the kind of work environment that modern employees seek. 
• PTO increases by 3-4 days for every five years of employment. Source: Zenefits. Most successful companies offer additional PTO based on seniority, with increases at 3, 5, and 10 years (for example). This PTO structure is particularly effective for retaining top talent. 
• 28 million Americans don’t get any paid vacation or paid holidays. Source: Zippia. The United States is the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation days and paid holidays. The leisure and hospitality industry has the lowest number of workers with access to paid time off, while the insurance industry has the highest.
• 72% of workers are interested in working under an unlimited PTO policy. Source: MetLife
  Unlimited time off can help improve company morale. It gives employees the space to recharge and get back on track. It can save employers time (on PTO reporting, tracking, approvals, etc.) and, sometimes, money (see: leave encashment). But not everyone is convinced. Check out this episode of America Back to Work to hear why Rob Whalen, co-founder and CEO of venture-backed ($8.4M) PTO Exchange thinks unlimited PTO is bad news. 
• 54% of employees with paid time off have used sick time to take a mental health day.  Source: Zippia
  This statistic points to how companies adapt to a changed work world where employees are more likely to stay at an organization that values their health. With the growing awareness around burnout and mental health in the workplace, employers across the country are finding ways to provide more flexibility to employees so they can take care of themselves. Many companies are now offering unlimited sick days for this very reason: so employees can do what they need to do to get back to being productive. 

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