PTO Guides and Resources
Reference guides covering PTO accrual formulas, payout calculations, vacation tracking, and holiday pay. Each guide includes worked examples, reference tables, and links to relevant state labor laws.
How PTO Is Calculated
The three methods employers use to calculate PTO: per pay period, per hour worked, and annual lump sum. Includes the formulas and a worked example for each method.
120 hrs/year ÷ 26 paychecks = 4.62 hrs per paycheck
Read Guide →PTO for Hourly Employees
How per-hour accrual works, what rates to expect, which states require paid leave for hourly workers, and how part-time schedules affect your balance.
- • Common rate: 1 PTO hour per 30 hours worked
- • Full-time at that rate = ~69 PTO hours/year
- • 15+ states mandate paid sick leave for hourly workers
PTO Payout Explained
How PTO payouts are calculated, how much tax is withheld, which states require them, and what to do if your employer refuses to pay.
Unused hours × hourly rate = gross payout (taxed at ~30-40%)
Read Guide →Vacation Accrual Explained
How vacation time builds over the year, what accrual caps mean, rollover vs. use-it-or-lose-it policies, and how to check your mid-year balance.
Includes accrual rate tables by tenure, mid-year balance formula, and state-specific rollover rules.
Read Guide →How Holiday Pay Works
Whether you're entitled to premium pay for working holidays, how time-and-a-half is calculated, and how holiday pay interacts with overtime.
- • No federal law requires holiday pay for private workers
- • Most common rate: 1.5x (time-and-a-half)
- • Includes 2025 federal holiday calendar