Paid Time Off
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A consolidated leave policy that combines vacation, sick days, and personal days into a single bank of days that employees can use for any reason.
## Paid Time Off (PTO)
PTO is an inclusive leave policy where all types of leave (vacation, sick, personal) are pooled into one balance. Employees use PTO for any purpose without specifying a reason.
### PTO by Country
| Country | Statutory Minimum | Common Practice |
|---------|------------------|----------------|
| US | 0 days | 10–15 days (+ holidays) |
| UK | 28 days (incl. bank holidays) | 25 + 8 bank holidays |
| Germany | 20 days (5-day week) | 25–30 days |
| France | 25 days + RTT | 30–40 days total |
| Japan | 10 days (scaling to 20) | 10–20 days |
| Australia | 20 days | 20 days |
### Unlimited PTO
Some US companies offer 'unlimited' PTO, where there is no set number of days. Studies show employees at unlimited PTO companies often take fewer days than those with a fixed allotment, averaging 10–12 days.
### Financial Treatment
Accrued but unused PTO is a company liability. Laws vary on payout upon termination: California and several other states require payout; others do not.