PTO issue with work - WWYD???

jlw2505 · December 2009

I am so upset about this. I know - I am lucky to have a job and I do get that plus I have an awesome boss but I need to vent and would love any ideas.

Back story is this - I work for a huge corporation, have been there almost 5 years. I started in a recruiter role and after about a year, became very burnt out. Did some internal interviews while pregnant with #1 but decided to stay in my role for a few reasons. Shortly before I went on leave with #2 and after being there for almost 3 years, I was offered a job that was being newly created. It technically was a step down but just what I knew and my then manager (now my director) knew would be a great fit for me. I was told at that time that my salary and grade and PTO would all stay the same but I would not get a raise since I was being paid a lot more than the others in the role due to my other experience and also that I would still be eligible for bonus.

I come back after my 2nd maternity leave and have a new boss who I love and the job is going great. At the next yearly reviews, as expected I don't get a raise and I'm told I won't get a bonus even though my performance is excellent because I make more than the others in this role. My manager feels horrible and gives me an extra PTO day that no one else knows about.

This past summer, I am told that they need to lower my grade to what the others in this role are at (going from exempt to non-exempt) which I totally understand. This lower grade is at a lower PTO level but I am told they will keep my PTO where it is and it would still go up to the next level when I hit my 5 year mark this coming Feb.

Fast forward 4-6 months to last week when we find out that they did indeed PTO level as well. My manager is going to bat for me trying to get this taken care and is basically told "there is nothing we can do" which we know is not true as exceptions are made all the time.

Basically, I have been at 23 days since I started at the company. This new grade is at 18. In Feb, I should have gone up to 28 days but will now only be brought back up to 23. They are letting me take the 5 days that I lost this year off the books but won't do anything for 2010 or further. I am losing 6 days in 2010 since my hours won't be at the 23 mark until late Feb, I'll miss a days worth of accurally in those 2 months.

I have another meeting with my manager on this at 2pm and just am not sure what to say to her as I know she is trying hard to get this to change. I think the issue lays with my Director who is the one who addressed this with our VP.

Oh and I know I won't get a raise this year and I would bet money that I'll get the same line when it comes to bonuses.

I would love to look for another job but we all know what the economy is like, I love working for my boss, I get to work from home 2 days a week, more if needed and she gets it that I am a mom with 2 young kids in daycare. Hard to leave all of that but I feel like I am not being treated fairly.

Sorry so long - any thought?

shouldbworkin · December 2009

Do you have any of this documented in emails that you can print out and show them? Do you have an offer letter for the new position you took that sets out all of these conditions that is signed by both parties, as well? I would show that to them. It sounds like the are in breach of verbal and possibly written agreements and setting themselves up for liability. however, you are walking a fine line and I would tread lightly here. If they are bent on lowering your PTO and not giving you a bonus, I would see if they would renogotiate and give you some other intangibles that you need (flexible schedule, WAH day, etc.) for your trouble.

EastCoastBride · December 2009

jlw2505:

I would love to look for another job but we all know what the economy is like

This isn't a reason to not at least LOOK. yes, the economy is crappy, but there ARE jobs out there!

Beyond that, I really don't know what to tell you. You can reiterate the promises they've made you, you can stress that you feel your tenure and experience should count for something. But legally- I don't know that if you have a leg to stand on. PTO is a benefit that they are NOT required to give you.

Exceptions are made, and your immediate boss could still allow you the extra 6 days "off the books", but it sounds like the company, in order to keep their records straight, are the ones putting you back.

jlw2505 · December 2009

Nothing is in writing, this was an internal move in the same department and my company does not do offer letters for these kinds of moves which is killing me now since then I would have had all of this in writing and this would be a none issue.

I know PTO is a benefit (I work in HR) but when you are told you have a benefit and then its taken away for now apparent reason - it sucks. My company makes exceptions but not willing to do so in this case. I know I don't have a legal let to stand on and would never do anything legally over this - just looking for some advice on how to address the issue to see if it can be looked at again.

I already have 2 wfh days and a lot of flexibility thanks to my manager and yes, she might very well give me some days off the books but that only works as long as she is my manager and then I am still screwed out of the days that I have worked hard to earn. It is all an integrity thing - I was told one thing and then it was taken away from me for no reason. Had I been told upfront when I took the job that I would be losing these days, I could have made an informed decision - getting it taken away almost 2 years into the job is just not right.

I know I can look for a job and plan to after the New Year - I just know I will lose some of the other benefits that I have and I really do want to stay with this company and have been happy at my job with the exception of this one thing.

duchess0727 · December 2009

My question is - do you need the PTO and what would happen if you used up your 18 days? If the answer is that either you don't need them but like to have them in case your kids are sick or that your boss would let you take extra days if your kids are sick or an emergency comes up, then I'd just drop it. Even though it stinks to lose a benefit, 18 PTO days isn't that bad. At my last job, I had unlimited sick but only 10 PTO days, but my boss really didn't care when I took off and I didn't take advantage.

Honestly with a boss that lets you WFH 2 days and gets that you have 2 kids in daycare, I'd be very hesitant to make a big fuss about PTO unless your boss was going to dock your pay if you went over your PTO and you really thought that would happen.

shouldbworkin · December 2009

I think I would take the 18 days if you can't work something else out with them, but confirm it all with your boss and your boss's boss via email after the meeting. It can't hurt to look for another job, but who knows what you'll find out there and how the benies will compare.

RFbells · December 2009

Reading this email....I think I know which company you work for because I struggled with similar issues. Unfortunately politics at big companies are usually non negotiable.

I was laid off and had to start with a new company, the vacation is much less. Honestly 18 days is A LOT of PTO in comparison to other company benefits.

hiltyn78 · December 2009

duchess0727:

My question is - do you need the PTO and what would happen if you used up your 18 days? If the answer is that either you don't need them but like to have them in case your kids are sick or that your boss would let you take extra days if your kids are sick or an emergency comes up, then I'd just drop it. Even though it stinks to lose a benefit, 18 PTO days isn't that bad. At my last job, I had unlimited sick but only 10 PTO days, but my boss really didn't care when I took off and I didn't take advantage.

Honestly with a boss that lets you WFH 2 days and gets that you have 2 kids in daycare, I'd be very hesitant to make a big fuss about PTO unless your boss was going to dock your pay if you went over your PTO and you really thought that would happen.

This.

jlw2505 · December 2009

Thanks for thoughts everyone. No, in actuality the number of PTO days is not really the issue. The issue is that I was told something by my Director and than she went back on what she told me with no real reason other than an oops - I didn't do my homework and gave you the wrong information 6 months ago but too bad, your lose. Yes, my PTO is great and I'm not complaining. I was set to go up 28 days in Feb which is a ton of PTO and no, I don't need it - need is not really the issue - the issue is being able to trust that what I am told is in fact the case. I am not complaining that I have 23 days of PTO (my manager confirmed with me that if the system does not update when I hit my 5 year mark in Feb to give me the full 5, she will do it off the books) so in all aspects, I'm not losing any PTO, just not gaining the 5 that I was due before they changed my grade. Yes, the joys of working for a big corporation. Again this is not really about the PTO persay but about the integrity of being told something and then it being taken away because didn't do their homework. If they had, they would have made the correct changes in the system this past summer or told me than that I was losing the PTO.

In the end, I can't do anything. My manager is awesome and told me she doesn't want to lose me but understands if I feel that I need to look around and she will do whatever it is she can to help - get me work that would help me improve skills in areas that I feel need it, get me onto more projects, whatever it takes to get me into a new position in the company at the grade that I used to be or whatever position makes me happy. I love my manager and she is the reason I have stayed in my position as long as I have. I told her if she has any plans to leave, she better give me a heads up so I can leave with her. I'm not happy but I also have accepted that I can't do anything about it and going forward everything and anything will be given to me in writing.

jenny1980 · December 2009

If the real issue is not actually the PTO, I would recommend letting it go. You acknowledge you have a good overall deal: why compromise that just because you're pissed your director screwed up?

I agree what happened is frustrating, but since nothing was put in writing, I don't see what you can do other than leave, which again, doesn't sound like the best solution here.

Mrs.McLovin · December 2009

You have every right to be mad about the PTO. That said, I don't know of many jobs where you can work from home 2 days a week and have an understanding boss. That is worth so much to a working parents. Other than the PTO, you sound like you are happy with this job. Again, that is worth more than you know. Go ahead and look around. If something better pops up, then go for it. But think carefully before leaving a good situation.

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PTO issue with work - WWYD???

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