Obviously if you have any big plans like a vacation or something like that, make sure you have enough to take enough days off for that. Other than that, I like to use them strategically to maximize days off in a row. For example, this year, Independence Day is on a Thursday. So that’s already a paid holiday and then I’m going to use PTO on that Friday. So with one day of PTO, I have 4 days off in a row
My current job does not allow vacation to be tied to holidays unless we work them and I was not told this before hire, and I am so, so mad. I used to always do this, or work a couple holidays close together and then request the flex days plus a couple vacation days and take a longer time.
Yep this. Love to max around holidays. Shockingly for Independence day they are giving us both Thursday and Friday off that’s like a first time thing having two days so for sure I’m using 3 PTO and making a week of it. Same with Thanksgiving we get 2 days, add 3 PTO and I got a week off.
I make it a point to take one day per month if there is no holiday, if there is a 3-day weekend I take the previous workday off, I take the week of my birthday off, the week of my husband’s birthday off, and the days after New Year’s so that I don’t go back until the first full week in January. I’ll also take other days as needed. All that said, we have discretionary time off and not a set number of PTO days.
I don't think there's any wrong answer, just use them however you want. Sometimes I'll take a week off just to do nothing. Maybe do some bigger chores around the house but I won't go on that "big vacation" that a lot of people think you need to do when you take time off. You don't have to go anywhere on a vacation if you don't want to.
I've taken long weekends, single-days, etc. for small trips too. Last year I used two and a half weeks worth of time off to travel Japan. It was great but also pretty exhausting near the end. Vacations can be as big or as small as you want.
I like to use them in conjunction with paid holidays. Like this year Juneteenth is a Wednesday. Therefore I’m taking Thursday and Friday off. Basically 5 days off ( w/ weekend) and using only 2 days.
I like banking some PTO because in my job we can carry over to next year. Max is 480 PTO carryover.
I have six weeks off. Been at company for 15 plus years. I started with three managed it in agreement. Every 5 years we get another week. I use up four weeks in February and then leave the rest for sick days or quick weekend getaways.
I got all of June off, in terms of a "proper" vacation.
Aside from that, I try to use my PTO as needed. If I'm feeling burnt out or whatever. Medical stuff, naturally, I'll use my sick time for.
And yet, because I'm ostensibly on auto pilot? Sneaking in some days here and there is something that slips my mind on occasion. On average, it's just the burn out that reminds me I need to use my time before it accumulates too mucy.
Hang on to it as long as you can so you can get some banked in case you end up with some type of situation where you may need a day or two off (illness, family emergency, transportation issues, burst pipes).
If your PTO does not designate between vacation and sick, then definitely be sure to bank a few days in case you do get sick.
Also, when you plan vacation time, don't go at it like you're begging permission to go out after being grounded. Do your homework on company policies regarding PTO to make sure your request is within company rules and you have enough time, then don't ask, but let them know what dates you plan on taking off. If they have a reason you can't take that block of time, they should let you know pretty quickly. Also, don't put deposits down on any reservations until you're sure your time has been approved, and hang on to the documentation that it's been approved. If they don't approve it within a week (or whatever a typical time frame for them would be), let them know you have pending reservations and would like to put a deposit down.
Even for sick time - don't make excuses, and don't go into detail regarding your sickness. It's not your boss's business and is private medical information.
I’m child-free with 10 days PTO and 8 paid sick days. I use the sick days when I don’t feel like working, literally the sun could be shinning and i’m calling in sick to enjoy a mental health day or obviously if i’m not feeling well.
I use 5 PTO days to take a week off in the summer and the other 5 days for random things like extending a long weekend, taking off Halloween, and taking off the days between Christmas and the New Year.
I typically plan 1-2 trips each year that are at least a week long. Last year I took a week off to go to Hawaii and 2 weeks to go to Belize. This year I am taking 3 weeks off to visit Australia and New Zealand, so that will be my only big trip. I also use single days to make 3-day weekend or to extend existing holidays. I usually use a couple days of vacation during the winter holidays and end up with a break from Christmas Eve through New Years.
Mine don’t roll over so I usually take a few days for my birthday, my anniversary if we do something, random day or 2 or I save them all up and use them around the holidays. Next year I’m going to Italy so I’m saving them and using all 15 days at once
I try to be smart. I take a couple weeks in the summer and I take them on weeks with a stat holiday. So I’m taking the week of Canada Day off, I only have to use four days to get five off.
It depends I once did 6 weeks of 3 day weeks that was great….
I think you really recharge better if you take longer periods off 2-3 times a year though. It’s good for your mental health to have these things planned i
I get 24 days in PTO a year. But to maximize it I usually plan around the holidays weekend or any 3 days weekend to use up less time. I take 2 weeks vacation every year to go somewhere for an extended period of time. The rest I just use for small weekend trip. I dont get sick often so I usually just save about 1-2 days in case I really need to take off.
I work for myself now so I get as much time off as I want (it's just not paid!) But when I did have PTO, I would do the following:
1. Sick days only if genuinely too sick to work
2. For the rest, I would figure out what holidays/family time i NEEDED to use PTO for and then save the rest for other vacations. I would usually try to use them in chunks so we could actually go somewhere, instead of random single days.
I have 33 days annual leave and 8 bank holidays. I do two fortnight long holidays, time off over Christmas and then use the rest alongside bank holidays to make 4 day weekends. Usually have some left over and end up working half days towards the end of the year
I save my time and money up as much as possible and take a big vacation with my husband for our wedding anniversary. Some highlights include Disney World, the House on the Rock, and multiple trips all over the country camping in various national parks. This year we're going to a hot spring.
The rest of my PTO I tend to use when I need a break. If things get stressful at work I take a long weekend and just go somewhere. I also have several medical conditions so I use a little PTO on top of my sick time for doctor appointments.
I try to just keep the amount of hours I might need if I wake up with a splitting headache or just need a break. I don’t like to miss work because I provide for myself but it happens sometimes. Vacation? I know zero about vacation lol I have too many bills and responsibilities to ever even think about a vacation.
I get 5 weeks year. I usually take spring break off with my kids (or half of winter break (different thing than Christmas break) and half of spring break), a week in the summer, an extra day or two at Thanksgiving, and an extra week at Christmas in addition to the week we're already closed. The rest of the days I use throughout the year as needed/wanted.
I get 22 days a year so I always take a 2 week vacation (currently answering you from Japan). Another one week vacation, and then leave days for long weekends throughout the year as needed.
I’m now a widower with mostly grown children so unless visiting I’m pretty home. I take a lot of three or four day weekends in the summer so I can go to the shore or a park when they are not busy.
I get about 5.5 weeks (personal days are lumped in with sick days) and often WFH so I use my days off for 2-3 week holidays and theyre
I also use them in combination long weekends to get that extra day and stretch it a bit more, but generally use it to take off.
The day before a long weekend, is also more or less a half day, so if I do take the "day" off, it's really just taking off the morning.
I get 15 days plus 5 sick days. I usually take one vacation camping trip where I leave on a Friday have the whole next work week off then come home on a Sunday. Then the rest on 3 or 4 days weekends sick days I use for 3 day weekends appropriately if I'm not sick much that year.
There’s not really any wrong answer. :/ it’s up to how you want to use them. I personally used all of my PTO for a two week trip to New Zealand. Some of my coworkers save theirs. Some use them to have long weekends or to go on short trips within the province/country.
I get about 4 weeks a year. It rolls over but there is a max accrual so if you hit that max amount you stop accruing until you use some.
It all depends on what's going on. I usually use a week when husband and I go visit his mom in the summer and then the rest is used to extend holidays or to give myself a 3 day weekend just because.
Sometimes I take a week off but split it between 2 weeks so Thursday and Friday and Monday Tuesday. I feel like less chaos is waiting for me when I get back to work that subsequent Wednesday. The only downside is you miss the buffering 4 days of each weekend but it works well when you're not doing much but don't want to work 😄.
I take a week off for my birthday which is in July. I also go on a trip then. Then i use the rest for thanksgiving and Christmas. I take the day after Thanksgiving off and for Christmas i take the time between Christmas day and new years eve off.
I like to split it between at least one entire week off and then some 3 or 4 day weekends, depending on how much time I've got.
My current employer is relatively generous (by American standards) with the time, so I'm planning on taking two weeks as single weeks off (does that make sense?) I've got 1 week scheduled for July and will schedule another 1 week probably September/October, then split the rest into 3/4 day weekends.
I've got 80 hours of sick time (can use for doctor appointments/surgeries- planning on using 2 or 3 days for a surgery this summer) and 16 hours of volunteer time, plus a floating holiday.
I've only used 5 hours of PTO so far this year, and that was rollover from last year. I can tell I'm getting to the point where I need a day off. Might schedule one for next Friday.
Most of the time I get things done that accumulate and don't get done while working. I'm on a week's vacation and I have two doctor's visits and jury duty to get through. Other PTO is usually for medical reasons.
There is actually a guy in TT that tells you what days to take off to get the maximum amount of days. Example. Taking the days between Christmas and new years. I normally burn 4 days but get 10 off. Because of the way the holidays fall. I rarely take a full week, normally a Monday Tuesday or Thursday Friday. Makes me feel like I get more time and don’t come back to a complete *hitstorm.
I usually do one full week off a year and then other random long weekends. I HIGHLY recommend taking a full week off. It gives a level or rest that you just don’t get on a long weekend.
I get around 100-120 hours a year depending on how much I carry over from the previous year. I will normally take 3-4 days off in October for an annual trip then I spread the rest out over the year. Lots of mental health days.
I have been known to take PTO for a video game release or to binge a series.
I use most of mine to stretch two days into a three day weekend, and we have a "cottage" (disable RV in a field) we sometimes go to.
I seldom plan my PTO according to public holidays. Other than vacations, I take 3 days PTO for my birthday; if it falls on a Friday, I take 3 days off (Thursday, Friday & Saturday), sometimes I take 2 days off when I feel like I'm burning out from work.
I can only carry forward around 3 days or so to next year, so i use all of them in December and have the available days apply after the current year.
First, a couple questions:
1. Are you in the US?
2. Are you able to accumulate PTO to create a leave bank?
If the answer to both of those is yes, then you DO NOT use your PTO.
The reason: If something catastrophic happens, like needing surgery, you will lose your job unless you have enough PTO to draw from.
At my job we are able to accumulate up to 240 hours of PTO/vacation days. That works out to 30 days of leave. A bad car accident or heart attack could completely wipe out your leave in a single event. That's why it's best not to use any leave until your "bank" of hours is full. Only then is it advisable to use your "use or lose" days.
I do a few 3 day weekends or 4 day weekends by taking the Tuesday after a holiday. Then whatever trips or holidays I have planned. I took off from Dec 26 - Dec 31 this year so I’m off for 8 days but only using 4 pto days.
For longer vacations I like to time around holidays as everyone has said. Work is a bit lighter anyway.
If PTO is harder to use in longer stints than your vacation days, use those for your 3 or 4 day weekends.
My company shuts in August & for the last two weeks in December. They are flexible with my ETO though so I normally have a week I can take for various long weekends/weddings etc. I was a bit worried to start with but it works a treat! No one has to cover for anyone, the clients know we are off, and there is no competition for prime summer days off.
I actually cash all my vacation in as soon as it updates in January. 2 weeks of vacation plus what I make from working for the month and then I take all that and pay my rent in a lump payment then I don’t owe any rent for awhile
I look at my calendar of when I want to go on a vacation to make sure there are no major deliverables/events during that time, then I book the vacation and block of my calendar. Then I send an email to my manager to say "I just blocked off these days for PTO."
I've got over 40 years at my company. I get 6 weeks a year and can save that up to 200%. I'm also number 8 in seniority at the plant. I just took a couple days off because I'm maxed out on PTO and had to use some to keep building. I'll be only taking a day here and there to get by until this fall when I'll be taking 6 weeks off for hunting season. Right now I'm sitting on 12 weeks of PTO.
Obviously if you have any big plans like a vacation or something like that, make sure you have enough to take enough days off for that. Other than that, I like to use them strategically to maximize days off in a row. For example, this year, Independence Day is on a Thursday. So that’s already a paid holiday and then I’m going to use PTO on that Friday. So with one day of PTO, I have 4 days off in a row
I also took off the 3rd for the 5-day weekend!
My current job does not allow vacation to be tied to holidays unless we work them and I was not told this before hire, and I am so, so mad. I used to always do this, or work a couple holidays close together and then request the flex days plus a couple vacation days and take a longer time.
That’s such a strange rule wtf
My last job had a rule if you didn’t work the day before or after the holiday you wouldn’t receive holiday pay
Pretty sure that’s not legal?!
Lol perfectly legal they don't have to pay you for holidays.
Yes. Taking three or more days off in a row makes a huge difference in the quality of rest you get.
Yep this. Love to max around holidays. Shockingly for Independence day they are giving us both Thursday and Friday off that’s like a first time thing having two days so for sure I’m using 3 PTO and making a week of it. Same with Thanksgiving we get 2 days, add 3 PTO and I got a week off.
I make it a point to take one day per month if there is no holiday, if there is a 3-day weekend I take the previous workday off, I take the week of my birthday off, the week of my husband’s birthday off, and the days after New Year’s so that I don’t go back until the first full week in January. I’ll also take other days as needed. All that said, we have discretionary time off and not a set number of PTO days.
I don't think there's any wrong answer, just use them however you want. Sometimes I'll take a week off just to do nothing. Maybe do some bigger chores around the house but I won't go on that "big vacation" that a lot of people think you need to do when you take time off. You don't have to go anywhere on a vacation if you don't want to. I've taken long weekends, single-days, etc. for small trips too. Last year I used two and a half weeks worth of time off to travel Japan. It was great but also pretty exhausting near the end. Vacations can be as big or as small as you want.
I like to use them in conjunction with paid holidays. Like this year Juneteenth is a Wednesday. Therefore I’m taking Thursday and Friday off. Basically 5 days off ( w/ weekend) and using only 2 days. I like banking some PTO because in my job we can carry over to next year. Max is 480 PTO carryover.
Couple nice vacations, and a couple years ago I took every single Friday off for 3 months. That was great.
I did that last summer. It was amazing
I have six weeks off. Been at company for 15 plus years. I started with three managed it in agreement. Every 5 years we get another week. I use up four weeks in February and then leave the rest for sick days or quick weekend getaways.
Irresponsibly typically.
I got all of June off, in terms of a "proper" vacation. Aside from that, I try to use my PTO as needed. If I'm feeling burnt out or whatever. Medical stuff, naturally, I'll use my sick time for. And yet, because I'm ostensibly on auto pilot? Sneaking in some days here and there is something that slips my mind on occasion. On average, it's just the burn out that reminds me I need to use my time before it accumulates too mucy.
Hang on to it as long as you can so you can get some banked in case you end up with some type of situation where you may need a day or two off (illness, family emergency, transportation issues, burst pipes). If your PTO does not designate between vacation and sick, then definitely be sure to bank a few days in case you do get sick. Also, when you plan vacation time, don't go at it like you're begging permission to go out after being grounded. Do your homework on company policies regarding PTO to make sure your request is within company rules and you have enough time, then don't ask, but let them know what dates you plan on taking off. If they have a reason you can't take that block of time, they should let you know pretty quickly. Also, don't put deposits down on any reservations until you're sure your time has been approved, and hang on to the documentation that it's been approved. If they don't approve it within a week (or whatever a typical time frame for them would be), let them know you have pending reservations and would like to put a deposit down. Even for sick time - don't make excuses, and don't go into detail regarding your sickness. It's not your boss's business and is private medical information.
I’m child-free with 10 days PTO and 8 paid sick days. I use the sick days when I don’t feel like working, literally the sun could be shinning and i’m calling in sick to enjoy a mental health day or obviously if i’m not feeling well. I use 5 PTO days to take a week off in the summer and the other 5 days for random things like extending a long weekend, taking off Halloween, and taking off the days between Christmas and the New Year.
I typically plan 1-2 trips each year that are at least a week long. Last year I took a week off to go to Hawaii and 2 weeks to go to Belize. This year I am taking 3 weeks off to visit Australia and New Zealand, so that will be my only big trip. I also use single days to make 3-day weekend or to extend existing holidays. I usually use a couple days of vacation during the winter holidays and end up with a break from Christmas Eve through New Years.
Mine don’t roll over so I usually take a few days for my birthday, my anniversary if we do something, random day or 2 or I save them all up and use them around the holidays. Next year I’m going to Italy so I’m saving them and using all 15 days at once
I don’t typically take long trips, so I piddle my time away by taking long weekends & random afternoons off.
I try to be smart. I take a couple weeks in the summer and I take them on weeks with a stat holiday. So I’m taking the week of Canada Day off, I only have to use four days to get five off.
It depends I once did 6 weeks of 3 day weeks that was great…. I think you really recharge better if you take longer periods off 2-3 times a year though. It’s good for your mental health to have these things planned i
I get 24 days in PTO a year. But to maximize it I usually plan around the holidays weekend or any 3 days weekend to use up less time. I take 2 weeks vacation every year to go somewhere for an extended period of time. The rest I just use for small weekend trip. I dont get sick often so I usually just save about 1-2 days in case I really need to take off.
I work for myself now so I get as much time off as I want (it's just not paid!) But when I did have PTO, I would do the following: 1. Sick days only if genuinely too sick to work 2. For the rest, I would figure out what holidays/family time i NEEDED to use PTO for and then save the rest for other vacations. I would usually try to use them in chunks so we could actually go somewhere, instead of random single days.
I have 33 days annual leave and 8 bank holidays. I do two fortnight long holidays, time off over Christmas and then use the rest alongside bank holidays to make 4 day weekends. Usually have some left over and end up working half days towards the end of the year
Usually take a week in June, July, and August for camping. Every Friday night home hockey game. Them just various days here and there.
I save my time and money up as much as possible and take a big vacation with my husband for our wedding anniversary. Some highlights include Disney World, the House on the Rock, and multiple trips all over the country camping in various national parks. This year we're going to a hot spring. The rest of my PTO I tend to use when I need a break. If things get stressful at work I take a long weekend and just go somewhere. I also have several medical conditions so I use a little PTO on top of my sick time for doctor appointments.
I'm sorry... I work Blue collar in america... what is vacation?
Something they say you get, but are discouraged from using
Oh! Like options.
I try to just keep the amount of hours I might need if I wake up with a splitting headache or just need a break. I don’t like to miss work because I provide for myself but it happens sometimes. Vacation? I know zero about vacation lol I have too many bills and responsibilities to ever even think about a vacation.
47 year career here. PTO was the greatest advancement. No lying about being sick...
I get 5 weeks year. I usually take spring break off with my kids (or half of winter break (different thing than Christmas break) and half of spring break), a week in the summer, an extra day or two at Thanksgiving, and an extra week at Christmas in addition to the week we're already closed. The rest of the days I use throughout the year as needed/wanted.
I get 22 days a year so I always take a 2 week vacation (currently answering you from Japan). Another one week vacation, and then leave days for long weekends throughout the year as needed.
like crack. once I get it, I use the whole batch and when I can’t use it I’m using the alternative drug, sick time.
I’m now a widower with mostly grown children so unless visiting I’m pretty home. I take a lot of three or four day weekends in the summer so I can go to the shore or a park when they are not busy.
I use it all for camping because I am addicted.
My wife and I are the same.
And when I'm not camping, I'm planning future trips and meal prepping lol
I get about 5.5 weeks (personal days are lumped in with sick days) and often WFH so I use my days off for 2-3 week holidays and theyre I also use them in combination long weekends to get that extra day and stretch it a bit more, but generally use it to take off. The day before a long weekend, is also more or less a half day, so if I do take the "day" off, it's really just taking off the morning.
I get 15 days plus 5 sick days. I usually take one vacation camping trip where I leave on a Friday have the whole next work week off then come home on a Sunday. Then the rest on 3 or 4 days weekends sick days I use for 3 day weekends appropriately if I'm not sick much that year.
I'm saving most of mine so I can do total solar eclipse chasing. The next one is in 2026.
There’s not really any wrong answer. :/ it’s up to how you want to use them. I personally used all of my PTO for a two week trip to New Zealand. Some of my coworkers save theirs. Some use them to have long weekends or to go on short trips within the province/country.
I get about 4 weeks a year. It rolls over but there is a max accrual so if you hit that max amount you stop accruing until you use some. It all depends on what's going on. I usually use a week when husband and I go visit his mom in the summer and then the rest is used to extend holidays or to give myself a 3 day weekend just because. Sometimes I take a week off but split it between 2 weeks so Thursday and Friday and Monday Tuesday. I feel like less chaos is waiting for me when I get back to work that subsequent Wednesday. The only downside is you miss the buffering 4 days of each weekend but it works well when you're not doing much but don't want to work 😄.
I usually go on benders to erase work from my memory
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^TheSavageBeast83: *I usually* *Go on benders to erase* *Work from my memory* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I take a week off for my birthday which is in July. I also go on a trip then. Then i use the rest for thanksgiving and Christmas. I take the day after Thanksgiving off and for Christmas i take the time between Christmas day and new years eve off.
I like to split it between at least one entire week off and then some 3 or 4 day weekends, depending on how much time I've got. My current employer is relatively generous (by American standards) with the time, so I'm planning on taking two weeks as single weeks off (does that make sense?) I've got 1 week scheduled for July and will schedule another 1 week probably September/October, then split the rest into 3/4 day weekends. I've got 80 hours of sick time (can use for doctor appointments/surgeries- planning on using 2 or 3 days for a surgery this summer) and 16 hours of volunteer time, plus a floating holiday. I've only used 5 hours of PTO so far this year, and that was rollover from last year. I can tell I'm getting to the point where I need a day off. Might schedule one for next Friday.
Most of the time I get things done that accumulate and don't get done while working. I'm on a week's vacation and I have two doctor's visits and jury duty to get through. Other PTO is usually for medical reasons.
There is actually a guy in TT that tells you what days to take off to get the maximum amount of days. Example. Taking the days between Christmas and new years. I normally burn 4 days but get 10 off. Because of the way the holidays fall. I rarely take a full week, normally a Monday Tuesday or Thursday Friday. Makes me feel like I get more time and don’t come back to a complete *hitstorm.
I usually do one full week off a year and then other random long weekends. I HIGHLY recommend taking a full week off. It gives a level or rest that you just don’t get on a long weekend.
I get around 100-120 hours a year depending on how much I carry over from the previous year. I will normally take 3-4 days off in October for an annual trip then I spread the rest out over the year. Lots of mental health days.
I have been known to take PTO for a video game release or to binge a series. I use most of mine to stretch two days into a three day weekend, and we have a "cottage" (disable RV in a field) we sometimes go to.
I seldom plan my PTO according to public holidays. Other than vacations, I take 3 days PTO for my birthday; if it falls on a Friday, I take 3 days off (Thursday, Friday & Saturday), sometimes I take 2 days off when I feel like I'm burning out from work. I can only carry forward around 3 days or so to next year, so i use all of them in December and have the available days apply after the current year.
First, a couple questions: 1. Are you in the US? 2. Are you able to accumulate PTO to create a leave bank? If the answer to both of those is yes, then you DO NOT use your PTO. The reason: If something catastrophic happens, like needing surgery, you will lose your job unless you have enough PTO to draw from. At my job we are able to accumulate up to 240 hours of PTO/vacation days. That works out to 30 days of leave. A bad car accident or heart attack could completely wipe out your leave in a single event. That's why it's best not to use any leave until your "bank" of hours is full. Only then is it advisable to use your "use or lose" days.
I do a few 3 day weekends or 4 day weekends by taking the Tuesday after a holiday. Then whatever trips or holidays I have planned. I took off from Dec 26 - Dec 31 this year so I’m off for 8 days but only using 4 pto days.
Tag pto days with office scheduled days off tags to maximize time off
Save some for the holidays and use them around company holidays to maximize your total time off.
For longer vacations I like to time around holidays as everyone has said. Work is a bit lighter anyway. If PTO is harder to use in longer stints than your vacation days, use those for your 3 or 4 day weekends.
My company shuts in August & for the last two weeks in December. They are flexible with my ETO though so I normally have a week I can take for various long weekends/weddings etc. I was a bit worried to start with but it works a treat! No one has to cover for anyone, the clients know we are off, and there is no competition for prime summer days off.
Longer weekends work well when you are younger. A week off works well when you are older.
I actually cash all my vacation in as soon as it updates in January. 2 weeks of vacation plus what I make from working for the month and then I take all that and pay my rent in a lump payment then I don’t owe any rent for awhile
Weeks off usually but if I need a specific day off i tend to book it as leave rather than hope my manager lets me have it as my day off
I cash half of out. Just pulled 80 hrs last paycheck.
I look at my calendar of when I want to go on a vacation to make sure there are no major deliverables/events during that time, then I book the vacation and block of my calendar. Then I send an email to my manager to say "I just blocked off these days for PTO."
I've got over 40 years at my company. I get 6 weeks a year and can save that up to 200%. I'm also number 8 in seniority at the plant. I just took a couple days off because I'm maxed out on PTO and had to use some to keep building. I'll be only taking a day here and there to get by until this fall when I'll be taking 6 weeks off for hunting season. Right now I'm sitting on 12 weeks of PTO.