← Remote Work Glossary

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Days an employee can take off work while still being paid — covering holiday, personal and sometimes sick leave.

Paid Time Off (PTO) is the pool of paid days you can use for holidays, personal matters and often illness. Some companies grant a fixed number of days; others bundle everything into one flexible balance.

"Unlimited PTO" removes the fixed cap but, in practice, people sometimes take less — so ask what the team's real average is. PTO norms also vary hugely by country, which matters on international teams.