--- title: Maybe We're Thinking About PTO Too Narrowly| myHR Partner description: Learn why businesses are rethinking PTO and compassionate leave to improve workplace culture, reduce burnout, and retain employees. image: https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hubfs/PTO%20post.png ---  myHR Partner named to *Inc.’s Best Workplaces 2025*! We're honored to be recognized for our people-first culture and commitment to workplace excellence. [Read more](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/news/myhr-partner-among-inc.s-best-workplaces-for-2025-list). close [ Blog ](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog) - Browse Topics More - [Workplace Hot Topics](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/workplace-hot-topics) - [Hiring](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/hiring) - [Outsourcing HR](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/outsourcing-hr) - [Human Resources/HR](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/human-resources-hr) - [Employee Relations](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-relations) - [Entrepreneurship](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Management Counsel](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/management-counsel) - [Compliance](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/compliance) - [Employee Retention](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-retention) - [Small business](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/small-business) - [Performance Management](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/performance-management) - [Employee Engagement](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-engagement) - [Private foundation](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/private-foundation) - [Benefits Administration](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/benefits-administration) - [Mid-sized organization](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/mid-sized-organization) - [Small organization](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/small-organization) - [Non-profit](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/non-profit) - [Payroll](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/payroll) - [Mid-sized business](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/mid-sized-business) - [Employee Benefits](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-benefits) - [Interviewing](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/interviewing) - [Diversity](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/diversity) - [Employee Development](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-development) - [Job Descriptions](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/job-descriptions) - [Job Postings](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/job-postings) - [Labor Market](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/labor-market) Subscribe Not long ago, our CEO, Tina Hamilton, [wrote a column about a trend that’s subtly growing in large corporate workplaces across the country](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/talking-business-when-paid-time-off-becomes-optional-that-should-worry-us): rolling back paid time off and related benefits. In some cases, companies are trimming benefits to cut costs. In others, the shift is cultural. Employees increasingly feel too busy, too uncertain, or too replaceable to actually use the time off they already have.   And lately, we’ve been thinking about it even more after internal conversations about how to better support team members going through difficult personal situations, along with reading an article in [*The HR Digest* about compassionate leave policies](https://www.thehrdigest.com/what-is-compassionate-leave-and-is-it-mandatory-an-hr-guide-to-the-basics/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Because maybe the real issue isn’t whether companies offer enough PTO. Maybe it’s that the way we think about leave no longer reflects the reality of people’s lives. Employees can plan vacations. They can’t plan grief. Or a beloved family member’s diagnosis. Or burnout. Or a miscarriage. Or the moment life suddenly becomes heavier than work. That’s where the conversation gets deeper for business leaders. ## PTO Still Matters. A Lot. PTO is one of the most important benefits that companies offer. Rest matters. Recovery matters. Time away from work matters. In her column, Tina talked about how concerning it is when employees stop using paid time off altogether. Usually, it’s not because people suddenly became less tired. It’s because something in the culture shifted. They’re afraid to fall behind. Afraid to look replaceable. Afraid to appear less committed than everyone else. And when that happens long enough, burnout becomes normalized. But maybe many organizations are realizing something else: Traditional PTO policies don’t fully address the kinds of pressures employees are carrying today.  ## The Workplace Has Changed With remote and hybrid arrangements being the norm, the lines between work and life are blurrier than they’ve ever been. Employees are caregiving longer. Supporting aging parents. Managing mental and physical health challenges. Navigating economic pressure. Raising children in a world that feels increasingly expensive and unpredictable. And unlike traditional vacation time, many of today’s biggest life challenges don’t arrive with advance notice. That’s part of why conversations around compassionate leave are gaining more attention. Compassionate leave is really about recognizing that employees are still people outside of work. Life happens. A parent gets sick, there’s a death in the family, an accident, or some kind of personal crisis that suddenly demands someone’s full attention. In those moments, most people aren’t in the right headspace to perform at their best anyway. They may physically show up, but mentally and emotionally, they’re somewhere else. Giving employees space to step away, handle what they need to handle, grieve, support family, or just breathe for a minute, is often the right thing for both the employee and the business.  ## The Best Employers May Be Expanding the Conversation This isn’t about creating endless time-off policies or removing accountability. It’s about recognizing reality. Employees do not stop being human when they come to work. And the companies that retain people long-term are often the ones that respond well during difficult moments. Traditionally, compassionate leave policies focused mostly on immediate family situations. But a lot of employers are starting to think more broadly about what support should look like depending on the situation and the culture they’re trying to build. Sometimes compassionate leave means: expanded bereavement policies flexibility during caregiving situations mental health support phased return-to-work options or simply giving managers permission to lead with humanity. None of those things eliminates performance expectations. But they do build trust. And trust matters more than ever right now. ## Culture Is Defined During Difficult Moments Most companies can create a good culture when business is strong and life is stable. The real test comes when employees are struggling. People remember how organizations respond during grief, illness, burnout, family emergencies, and overwhelming seasons of life much more than they remember office perks or motivational slogans. That’s why leave policies are more than an HR discussion. They’re a leadership discussion. Employees are paying attention to what companies prioritize when things get hard. ## A Final Thought Businesses are under pressure right now. Margins matter. Productivity matters. Sustainability matters. But so does building an organization people want to stay with for the long term. The companies that stand out over the next decade probably won’t be the ones that simply reduce benefits fastest or squeeze the most output from exhausted employees. They’ll be the ones who understand something simpler: People can work hard and still need support. People can be committed and still need rest. And people rarely forget how they were treated during the hardest moments of their lives.   If you're curious about how you might be able to support your team members who are going through a tough time, we’re always here to talk. [Let's have a conversation.](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/request-a-consultation)  ## Topics discussed - [Human Resources/HR](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/human-resources-hr) - [Employee Benefits](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-benefits) - [Employee Engagement](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-engagement) - [Employee Relations](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-relations) - [Performance Management](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/performance-management) - [Management Counsel](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/management-counsel) #### ABOUT THE AUTHOR ![myHR Partner Team](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/media.licdn.comdmsimageD4E0BAQEgw4PyMaO8mwcompany-logo_200_20001719925492800myhr_partner_logo-2.jpeg?width=100&height=100&name=media.licdn.comdmsimageD4E0BAQEgw4PyMaO8mwcompany-logo_200_20001719925492800myhr_partner_logo-2.jpeg) ##### myHR Partner Team myHR Partner provides outsourced HR services for established small and mid-sized businesses throughout the United States. With more than 24 years of experience, our Client Services team delivers both strategic and hands-on HR support, tailored to each organization’s needs. Every member of our customer service team has a formal HR education and practical experience managing compliance, employee relations, and people operations across diverse business environments. - - #### Insights in your inbox Subscribe to our blog to get insights sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe ## Related Posts [![](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wellbeing%20blog%20post.png?width=450&height=250&name=wellbeing%20blog%20post.png) ](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/employee-well-being-is-about-more-than-programs) [Employee Development](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-development) [Employee Well-Being is About More Than Programs](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/employee-well-being-is-about-more-than-programs) When leaders think about employee well-being, the conversation often turns to benefits. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). … 3 min read May 05, 2026 [![Unlock the Power of Employee Recognition](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Webinar%20Unlock%20the%20Power%20of%20Employee%20Recognition.png?width=450&height=250&name=Webinar%20Unlock%20the%20Power%20of%20Employee%20Recognition.png) ](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/webinar-replay-unlock-the-power-of-employee-recognition) [Employee Engagement](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/tag/employee-engagement) [Webinar Replay: Unlock the Power of Employee Recognition](https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/webinar-replay-unlock-the-power-of-employee-recognition) Ideally, hiring is both efficient and effective. These suggestions help proactive businesses accomplish both. 1 min read Jun 11, 2025 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "myHR Partner Team", "url" : "https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/author/myhr-partner" }, "dateModified" : "2026-05-20T16:15:49.645Z", "datePublished" : "2026-05-20T16:15:49.000Z", "headline" : "Maybe We're Thinking About PTO Too Narrowly| myHR Partner", "image" : [ "https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hubfs/PTO%20post.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://myhrpartnerinc.com/blog/maybe-were-thinking-about-pto-too-narrowly", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://myhrpartnerinc.com/hubfs/assets/logos/logo-full-color@2x.png" }, "name" : "myHR Partner, Inc." } } ```