For every 80hrs of work, we used to get 6hrs pto, which we now won't in the name of "unlimited pto" - i.e 7.5% pay cut - post regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

For every 80hrs of work, we used to get 6hrs pto, which we now won't in the name of "unlimited pto" - i.e 7.5% pay cut

People aren't realizing it, but this one is like selling your investment property for a year and a half's worth of rent (and no equity appreciation).

PTO is the employee's asset (& company's liability) - use it/encash it, but it would keep paying as long as you're employed, just like an investment property that keeps paying you rent. If you're given an offer to sell such a property for zero capital gains and a year and a half's rent (cuz that's how long it takes to accrue 280hrs PTO), most people would say no deal. Any asset liquidation leads to short-term cash, but unless you find a better yielding asset, you're at a loss in the long run.

But here most of us are happy thinking this (unlimited PTO) is the Bay area norm and that they'd still be free to take time off whenever they want, but that's not gonna happen. We're relinquishing our freedom to the powers that be. Folks taking more time off than to the liking of their managers will just get the boot (PIP or LR) down the road.

WAKE UP!!

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18 replies (most recent on top)

At least I’ll be happy to receive my PTO cash out bonus. I’ll be around 260hrs on the transition date.

You get that anyway the day your leave Cisco (job change, retirement, ...). Why are you happy what you get one way or the other?

i'm going to burn all my PTO until Sept 23rd. Why not?

This post was deleted earlier.
If you take PTO before 23rd Sept, you’ll be paying for it; if you take it after 23 Sep, then Cisco is paying.
That’s why not.

You are lucky to still be employed by Cisco. Count your blessings

Sure, unlimited PTO at a company where a huge % of ICs sc--w off or work a second job. Now tell the managers how to regulate this without turning this dump into EDS, INS, or any other operations body shop. Your DEI cr-p sets the mangers up for endless hr events just for pointing out or asking about misuse. The ELT of oblivious in that because of hiring practices the IC community has become almost as inept as they are and will take advantage of this just as the ELT has taken advantage of their compensation.

i'm going to burn all my PTO until Sept 23rd. Why not?

"At least I’ll be happy to receive my PTO cash out bonus. I’ll be around 260hrs on the transition date." Yeah, enjoy 22% tax cut...

Come on man you pay the tax either way

"At least I’ll be happy to receive my PTO cash out bonus. I’ll be around 260hrs on the transition date." Yeah, enjoy 22% tax cut...

At least I’ll be happy to receive my PTO cash out bonus. I’ll be around 260hrs on the transition date.

Don’t be ridiculous — it may not work for you but it’s not a 7.5% pay cut because at some point you have to use your vacation in an accrual system you can’t just use it forever. I’d be very proactive about making sure you get to use your time and I understand depending on team and role you have it may become a huge hassle to make sure you get your fair share of PTO but some people will be able to use this system to get 5, maybe 6 weeks of PTO per year instead of just 4. I use all my PTO already now and making sure I save enough has been stressful and I’ve gone negative a few times in the past couple years. This actually reduces stress for me. I’m probably in the minority of course

I always felt guilty taking PTO and definitely never took sick. Now that’s it is unlimited and use it or lose it - I will no longer have guilt.

Are some of you people for real?

Review USA labor laws - did they change recently? No company want to pay PTO unless mandated by a law. Damn lobbyists ;-)

I always felt guilty taking PTO and definitely never took sick. Now that’s it is unlimited and use it or lose it - I will no longer have guilt.

It certainly puts managers in a more powerful position and not all of them will know how to handle it.

The other countries have strict labor laws. The way they are paid out their PTO is also different. My partner lives in another country and works for Cisco and they just finished the layoff a month ago. They also had volunteer severance and had to send out a list of how many they were laying off in each role so people could volunteer. It’s nice their labor laws allow them to be protected more than we are. The level of stress is not the same.

Non-exempt aren’t any better, an employee with 5 -10 of service is losing 2+ days a year, less than 5 years is losing 4 days. The new vacation policy is just another step backwards for what was once a great place to work

Your math only makes sense if you literally take 0 PTO. And if you do that, then you are in need of adjustments.

Not sure about this one. I have always seen PTO as vacation time. As long as I get reasonable days off without a hassle I will be fine with it.

If you work for a company that offers "unlimited PTO" make sure you take plenty of time off each year. That is the only way to justify it.

This also depends on your manager. Are they reasonable? Hopefully so.
Unlimited PTO has pros and cons. Personally, I do not think unlimited PTO is a horrible thing. But each to their own.

And no, I am not ELT or HR trying to convince people that unlimited PTO is the right thing for them.

Everything in life has it's pros and cons. Learn them, and focus on maximizing their potential to your personal benefit. Good luck.

Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

For every 80hrs of work, we used to get 6hrs pto, which we now won't in the name of "unlimited pto" - i.e 7.5% pay cut

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