What happens to BTO if laid off? Are you refunded for the amount you’ve paid into so far?
12 replies (most recent on top)
For everyone saying it’s returned, NO it is not! Which is unfair! I was laid off 1/29 and asked multiple times about this in the HR meetings we had afterwards. BTO is NOT returned! And it is continued to be deducted through your notification period! Which is an absolute crock of cr-p! That’s MY money. Take your PTO, fine whatever, but BTO is literally my money and I can’t use it, so it should be given back! But no, it is not given back unless your state requires PTO payout.
BTO is returned. I take it because I want
extra days and will take it again if offered at another job. The problem that people run in to is that you cannot use it UNTIL you deplete your regular time off so UNLESS you use it in January, You will be running up a hill trying to use it.
@OP New for 2026, the unused BTO is forfeited unless you work in CA, CO, IL, LA, ME, MA, MT, NE, NM, ND or RI....if you are in these states you are refunded. Take 'em while you got 'em
@ed In our organization, unpaid time off is not allowed (unless under FMLA, STD, etc). I've been with the company for decades, and have never been in an org that allowed unpaid time.
I am also curious why people buy the BTO when you can take unpaid time off. Is it that managers won't or don't have to approve unpaid time off and the bought BTO is more of a guarantee?
Good question BTW, I would truly hope they return the money paid for any bought time off.
I buy the full 5 every year because I can’t stand this place. I’d imagine we’d get paid back??
@bs
don’t understand how people don’t use all their pto!?
If you don’t use it then of course you would not understand those that buy extra.
Bought time off is returned.
I am confused as to why people would buy extra time off. I can hardly take all of my PTO that I get every year. I have coworkers that always buy it and then complain that they have to use it before their PTO. I am in favor of taking every penny I can get from this job.
Not unless you are in one of the very few states that requires they pay you. They updated the policy for 2026.
There’s no federal law requiring PTO payout. Some states do treat earned PTO like wages and require payout. You would need to check your specific state.
legally, PTO is seen as a conditional benefit, not deferred pay — unless your state law says otherwise. As far as paying you back any money applied towards you buying extra pto, that is paid back to you. It is all explained in your severance package.
Very good question. Feels illegal not to return to us, but then again they don’t give back if we don’t use by end of year- do they? Which also feels illegal, that adds up to thousands of our own money for someone electing multiple days, anyone have experience with this?