We have a paid time off program and people are always needing time off. Should I donate hrs?

Question

We acrue vacation known as PTO hours based on how much time we spend at work and how many years we have worked for the company. I have always worked a lot and I keep a lot of hours in my paid time off bank. I dont use them because if I had an emergency, I would need the time off. I am single and have no one to depend on except myself.
It just seems like the people who are always on trips and calling in never have hours in there bank, so when something happens and they need the hours off, they have no hours in the bank to rely on. so the human resources dept asks us to donate our hours to them because of illness or whatever.
I do not donate because I feel like I work hard and I keep the hours in the bank on purpose in case I need them if I were to become ill.
I dont mean to sound like a hard @ss but I have to protect myself. I feel like I am being selfish and greedy. Am I.

Answer 1

Selfish?!? GREEDY?!?!? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

My employer also uses a PTO system rather than a 'days-off' plan because different positions within the company work different length shifts even though we all work a (full-time) 37.5 hour week. It's just the easiest (and, truthfully, the fairest) way for all employees to receive time-off benefits.

Those co-workers who spend all their time and then panic when an emergency occurs are irresponsible. If someone were near the end of the calendar year and had used all their time because they would otherwise forfeit those hours then I would feel sorry for them. The truth is that I have never worked for a company that would not allow you to carry-over at least a limited amount of unused hours into the next year.

If a co-worker had legitimately suffered a tragedy that caused them to use all of their PTO hours and you and the rest of the employees donated a few hours each to their pool to ease their financial burden while dealing with their hardship, it would be a wonderful gift. It's just that though, a gift. No one should expect to be bailed-out of a situation that they had a hand in complicating such as not saving some time for a 'rainy day'. It shows forethought and responsibility through your preparations for just such an event.

Now, seriously, go use some of those hours to enjoy yourself far, far away from your job.

Answer 2

When it's a major illness or whatever that someone else is suffering, I see nothing wrong with donating even just 8 hours of PTO. Usually in a case like that, there is a definite need. You never know when you may be the one that needs that assistance (a major illness can wipe out your PTO bank in no time).

Wow!! I'm definitely surprised at some of the answers!! I have only worked at one place where this was allowed and it was not forced by any means (from some of the answers, people are almost implying that it was) and it was ONLY when it was an illness such as cancer, something when the prognosis was not good. When the opportunites came up, I never donated because I wasn't there long enough to have accumulated sufficient time, but I felt really guilty when I didn't when one of the guys I worked with was diagnosed with cancer in January and dead by Thanksgiving. But alas, people answering here, really don't have a heart I guess. Really sad.

Answer 3

Of course HR asks. That way the people aren't in their office crying because they want even more time off.

Unless the situation was extraordinary, and I liked the person a whole lot, I would not give up my hours either. No way, no how. And I feel really suspicious of a company that promotes absenteeism.

Instead of coddling these people they need wake up calls. Life has emergencies, if you don't plan for them, they really suck.

And a lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency in my life. Ever.

I say you earned them, so you get to decide how to use them. Just tell HR to back off.

This is also the reason a good financial guy will always tell you to save 6 months living expenses at all times. That way you have a bank and if your illness is permanent you can file for social security. Again, someone else's lack of planning is not my problem.

Answer 4

no you're not selfish or greedy. This is time that you've earned and you are right to hold on to it.

The only people I would consider donating time to are for someone who has a major illness or has a close family member/dependent who has a major illness and that person needs a lot of time off. And even in that case, I still wouldn't donate all of my time.

Answer 5

I must be selfish and greedy too, because I feel the same way! YOU earn those hours, YOU should get to use them! Unless it's someone that you really like and feel that they have a valid need for the hours, I say it's perfectly understandable for you to want to keep them!