I hate the sound of it. In theory it is unlimited PTO. In reality you could be passive aggressive marginalized for taking PTO. I’d rather have my fixed number of days I can take with impunity.
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@34x yes I ended up getting denied PTO. However my manager did not deny or approve on workday yet but has written out on email which days to take off. Idk do they have to respond to workday request by a certain time? I feel like they don’t want to deny me on record in workday.
@375 I don’t have an PhD and I’m an E14. It was just a lot of luck getting it and very competitive. But frankly looking back, it’s a lot more responsibility and not that much more pay. E13 is a good place to be!
@35t I agree. Once you hit E13 it seems all you can do is make lateral moves. Now when I look at E14 job descriptions they want people with a PHD. Really? Are that many people getting PHDs and I’d you do is 113 for minimum a lot for that level of education?
@12c good to know. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure I'll never get promoted to 14 since promotions aren't ever approved.
@2ng yes, we can deny based on business need. I suggest to everyone to schedule the same amount of PTO you received previously or stay close within the range.,
Has anyone requested lot of time off due to the policy change? Can the manager deny the request days off?
@11b I am an E14 without Director in my job title, and I received the email about the PTO Choice change effective at the end of 2025. I hope it is a scr_w up. I would rather stay under the current PTO policy where I can't secretly be punished via my PTO by management.
@10q I heard you have to have the word "director" in your title and be an E14
@10h paying attention and was an E14 through July. No “my choice PTO” for me
Pay attention people - this was in effect for E14 and above for many 🌑 moons for unlimited PTO. M14 went into effect Jan 1 2025.
I’ve always thought the policy forced people to take more time off than they would. Most people take several days off in December just because they have to use it or lose it, do the detriment of team productivity and coverage.
People who are RIF’d and don’t get paid out for accrued PTO are forced to take several days or weeks to avoid losing what was earned.
This will be interesting.
Can someone please explain why we still need a sick leave/STD bucket of hours if paid time off is unlimited and we have E15s and above already taking numerous months off in a single year under this new policy? I am referring to the states that don't have laws protecting employees earned time off.
@hv most states do not require them to pay out PTO on a RIF. Now that it is going to be "unlimited" there will be no PTO payouts on a RIF for anyone since it is not accrued. So this really is not a win in this scenario for anyone. All this is doing is taking more away from associates which these companies keep getting away with and they will continue to get away with.
The only people this benefits that are current employees are those that are "in favor" with their leadership. It's one big club and nothing comes your way unless you are in it. Then they wonder why things fail, because they don't reward real work, they reward loyalty and popularity for the chosen few, even if they have no clue what they are doing.
@ds You are correct. For additional information look at other company websites such as https://www.syneoshealth.com/clinical-corporate-careers/pages/total-rewards for job benefits. This company does not even list PTO in the benefits section. Many companies have been doing this for years. The companies will get major backlash if they just simply say we are no longer offering PTO hours. No one would work for them. This stance is the new wave of the workforce and very similar to the days when pensions were no longer offered to employees in the 80s, 90s and forward. At Elevance If you do take time off approved by your manager you stick out like a sore thumb and are presumed to be a non team player because you're not working. Believe me your manager will be notified that you are taking too much time off and they would want to know why. MyChoice PTO is new for Anthem but not corporations who want to save money by not having to bank funds for those taking earned time off.
Very interesting..is it unlimited for all or did they just extended to grade 14’s? 1)because 14’s at director level had to return to the office 3 days a week, even with no direct reports, maybe they are trying to be fair, or maybe so many 14’s do the real work and were leaving they had to throw them a bone… But 2) if they take away accrued PTO they will not have to payout when you are RIF’ed unless there are state laws that require it and 3) unpaid PTO shows up as a liability on corporate balance sheets so going to unlimited gives Elevance a one time fake stock boost. Maybe a strategic move before year end earnings?
@fb Yes, they are going to try to sc_w over 14s now.
Did they provide my choice pto to more levels? Last I heard it was E15 and higher.
There are so much corruption with top people (sr directors and medical directors) abusing the unlimited PTO, especially in UM and CM. They take so much time off and no one bats an eye. The people that suffer are the members getting their care and the frontline that have to deal with the members. Management is nowhere to be found. Some I know don’t even log it into Work day. HR needs to validate with usage activity and PTO. They’ll be surprised on how much fly under the radar. Start looking at the HCMS side to chop because they’re just dead weight and take their many PTOs
It will be just like everything else here at EH. The favs will be taking 5+ weeks of PTO with all days off not being 'booked' in Workday, while the rest of us will be asked/forced to take less PTO than we would have normally received under the existing policy to make up for others being OOO so much. Personally, I am not going to lose my PTO time. I am going to track it and make sure I take the days I have earned from putting up with the BS here at this company for so long.
What next? My Choice Paycheck? They know very well you will not take your vacation because of fear of being RIFd.
Yes, and here’s the real ki-ler if you’re in California and you’ve accumulated a bunch of time. Your saved time will effectively disappear on January 1.
Just gotta say the comments on this are interesting- earlier posts on this site called out E15s and above for their privileged unlimited PTO and how it is a benefit only for the few - now ELV extends it to more folks and these same people complain that what they previously called a benefit for the privileged class is now a burden when offered to them. The old adage is true, “damned if you do and damned if you don’t “- please be more selective in your outrage at the risk of losing credibility.
Employees often take less time off
Ironically, most studies show that people with unlimited PTO take fewer vacation days on average than those with fixed PTO banks.
Why?
• Social pressure: no clear baseline → people don’t want to seem like they’re taking “too much.”
• Cultural cues: if leadership doesn’t take time off, employees won’t either.
• No “use it or lose it” urgency.
→ Result: employees work more, while the company looks generous.
Totally agree. Been on “unlimited” pto for a couple years now. take less now than when I had accrued days.
I was earning X before 12/29. I plan on taking at least X after 12/29, which is double their minimum recommendation.
@a7 that's ridiculous. I'd be taking off Tuesday through Thursday then. How can you ever travel with a schedule like that? That's too restrictive for most people.
I would like to be able to take my earned PTO when I want to, was told it doesn’t matter what days you get…..it is all depends on their perceived need. One person off per team. And forget about taking any Fridays or Mondays…
@OP 💯