Company dictates employees should take 15 days of yearly PTO to prevent burnout, reject employee's request for 6 different days: 'Rest is not a reward. It's a requirement'

Why mandate that employees take their PTO and then deny them the opportunity to use it?

Almost everyone agrees it is important to take a break from work now and again, but many employers don't make that easy. PTO is one of those topics that most employees have struggled with at one point or another. All they want is a well-earned vacation or a day or two to do something practical or important that has to be done during working hours, and then their manager is up in arms about how busy it is all of a sudden.

It should be a right for every employee to take time off, even if it is not always at a time that is most convenient to the company. Sure, there are people who will take liberties with their vacation days, but most just want what they are owed. They shouldn't have to make a major effort to ensure that happens.

Although there are an increasing number of companies that are paying more attention to making sure their employees feel comfortable taking their vacation time, it still isn't straightforward. There are plenty of employers that tout 'unlimited PTO' as a benefit and then make their workers feel guilty for taking more than they think is appropriate. It often feels embarrassing enough to have to request the freedom to take a day off, but the systems in place can just make the whole process even worse. It becomes something both inconvenient and stressful.