Is it legal for a company to use our PTO (paid time off) to pay for your holiday pay?

Question

When I first started my job, on holidays (like july 4th, thanksgiving, christmas) we would get the day off wth 8 hours paid if it was on a work day. Recently my company sent out a notice to all employees saying from now on, they will be using our PTO (paid time off) that we have accumulated to pay those 8 hours during holidays. It sucks and im just wondering if they can do that.

Answer 1

No - that's not legal

Contact your State Labor Board

Answer 2

They can indeed - sorry Michael F. - there is no law that states that a company is obligated to provide paid holidays for employees. Most companies do so in order to remain competitive in the labor market - but it isn't a requirement.

Likewise, vacation, sick, and/or PTO policies are governed by the company in terms of the amount of time granted and under what circumstances it is to be used.

Sorry.......

Answer 3

It's been my experience that benefits are inducement to work for a certain employer. That is paid insurance, holidays and perks. There are regulatory issues if not everybody is treated the same. You are free to stay or go. The boss is free to keep you or let you go. The Fed recently changed the overtime pay rules, calculated over a 2 week time span (thank ya' Dubya). Unless you are union, with a contract, I don't see any recourse with any state agency.

Answer 4

They call these kinds of things "benefits", but they aren't guaranteed to anyone without a contract that specifically spells them out. (Union workers, for instance, might have a legitimate beef.)

Paid days off, including holidays, are just PERKS that companies offer to try to attract and keep talent. At least, that was how it all got started in the post-war era (following World War II when the government looked down on the idea that the companies with huge bankrolls as a result of government spending from the war would scoop up all the returning GIs with the biggest salaries; thus, companies came up with various kinds of fringe benefits, including paid time off and group health insurance, to attract workers.)

Here's a newsflash: most companies aren't really interested in providing the best benefits. It's probably CHEAPER for them to run off their older talent and hire younger staff that doesn't expect the same level of benefits (nor do they cost as much to insure or require as much time off, on average.)

There's nothing that says they can't change these things, unless it's specifically stated as so in a contract, or the law of the state in which they are doing business. (Most states are "right to work" states these days, because they'd otherwise lose all of the industry to others that are.)

Welcome to the new economy. Get use to it.

Answer 5

There isn't a federal law requiring any paid time off, vacation, sick leave and holidays are set by each company and can be changed at will. If you don't like it quit.

Answer 6

You will need to check with your wage/hourly division at your state employment agency to post that question. With recent changes in labor laws, it is a gray area at present. Check with your state agency for a clear answer. if they tell you that your employer is wrong in the way that they are handling things, diplomaticly take the issue to them.

Best of luck to you with this one!!

Answer 7

i think thats illegal..you may what to contact the labor board about that.

Answer 8

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!--REPORT THEM TO YOUR STATE DEPT.OF LABOR, AND, YOUR STATE-LEVEL ATTORNEY GENERALS OPFFICE---THEY ARE PERFORMING AN ILLEGAL INTERCOURSE( both ways) UPON YOU, AND YOUR MONEY!!!