Unlimited PTO sounds like the ultimate perk. No counting days or need to “use it or lose it,” it’s your time away whenever you need it. But if you’ve ever had unlimited PTO, you know it’s a bit more complicated than just taking time off whenever you want, and the data from Empower supports that.

People with unlimited PTO only take about 16 days off a year. When you compare that to the 14 days typically taken on traditional plans, there’s only a two-day difference. Psychologist Caitlin Collins explains that when there isn’t a clear number to hit, most people take less time off because they’re nervous about appearing “less dedicated.”

And that’s the problem. Unclear rules don't translate into more free will. When organizations have a fixed policy, workers know exactly what they’re entitled to, but if your policy is relaxed, workers struggle to determine what is “reasonable.”

That doesn’t mean unlimited PTO is a sham. For teams with a healthy work culture, the policy can be great, but per SHRM’s 2024 survey, only 7% of employers offer it despite 20% of job seekers saying unlimited PTO is a dealbreaker.

The core takeaway is that fun office perks like snack walls, catered lunches, and ping pong tables are nice, but they’re not a replacement for the basics. At the end of the day, a good workplace is one where policies are simple and clear, making it stress-free for everyone to take time off.