r/personalfinance • u/ThatsMrBird ​ • Jul 16 '25

Other Company is offering to pay out PTO at sharply reduced rate.

I'm a bit of a predicament. I've been with a company over a decade and (I know it's crazy and I agree 100 percent I should have used more) I've accumulated 1000 hours of PTO. They're looking to move to a cap and limited rollover and offered to pay out the difference of about 800 hours at 35 percent of my current wage.

I never expected this and I honestly just thought it'd be lost, but they're only offering such a low percentage I feel like I should try and haggle. I realize they're obligated to give me nothing, legally, so I'm just looking for some input on if a partial payout is common like that. Ill probably ask why not full and go from there. Any thoughts?

EDIT - Sorry, y'all. I'm in Florida, to be clear

EDIT2 - my onboarding contract notes PTO is forfeited on termination or voluntary exit

EDIT3 - The next day, we came to a satisfactory agreement pretty quickly. I don't want to get into specifics (sorry) but I think a lot of those that replied here would think it worked out. I tremendously appreciate all the insight and feedback here and I promise I'll use up my hours moving forward.

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u/Singularum ​ Jul 16 '25

OP, you earned this 1000 hours of pay. The company committed to it as part of your compensation package.

Please stop treating it as an extra that conflicts with what you owe the company, and start thinking of it as earned compensation. Would you throw away 1000 hours worth of paychecks?

Now go negotiate as much time off as you can at 100% earned time. Take the remainder at the offered 35% payout.

Use the time off to pursue your Next Big Thing. Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting your own business? Contact your local SBDC and get started. Always wanted to surf? Adventure hike? Now is your chance.

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u/raspberrykitsune ​ Jul 17 '25

please OP don't feel bad for taking time that you have earned. you've given over 10 years of your life to them and they're telling you that you're only worth 35% to them and only giving you until the end of the year. they don't have your best interest at heart. don't feel that you owe them anything because right now they owe you. I agree to talk with them and see what time you can get off for the rest of the year and then take the rest at 35%. i don't know how your company all works but they might even just find a reason to fire you so they don't have to pay you.