Time is running out to settle your paid leave payments
Heads up, private sector workers! The clock is ticking. The deadline for using your accumulated paid leave is fast approaching – May 31, 2025, to be exact. After that, it's bye bye, vacation days. Here's a breakdown of what's what.
© Brian Jackson/Adobe Stock By Kevin Comby Published on
- Copy link Link copied
Perhaps you've been sensing an unusual emphasis from your employer or HR team recently. Chances are your paid time off (PTO) balance, or 'CP,' has something to do with it. According to the Actu website, May is a popular month for, well, making plans – including organizing time away from work. By May 31, 2025, you'll need to use up all the paid leave you've earned between June 1, 2024, and May 31, 2024. And that's a firm deadline – after that, poof, gone, adieu.
"If unused paid leave isn't taken before the reference period ends, it's considered lost," warns service-public.fr, emphasizing that it's not possible to roll them over to the next reference period. Private sector employees typically accrue 2.5 paid leave days every month, which add up over time and serve as precious moments to unwind during holiday seasons like summer and Christmas.
Sick leave and paid leave: Don't delay, or you might lose them
Sudden panic if your PTO balance is overflowing? Don't fret. A collective bargaining agreement executed by your corporation or sector may alter the reference period, for instance, for employees in construction or entertainment industries, where the reference period encompasses April 1 to March 31 each year.
For those who haven't utilized their days off by the deadline, all hope is not lost – you can still carry them over. However, you'll require your employer's approval. The same goes for your employer if they seek to carry over your days post the leave period. "Your employer needs your agreement if they want you to carry over your days," clarifies service-public.fr. To facilitate this, simply jot down a request in a registered letter or by hand to your employer, who will either approve or decline. In any event, an agreement between both parties is indispensable to carry over your PTO.
Around this article
- Paid Time Off
- Labor Laws
- Work-Life Balance
FYI: Employers may have different policies on paid leave, so it's always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your organization's HR guidelines or local labor laws for accuracy. However, some common reasons for ensuring timely use of paid leave include:
- Accrual Limits: Some companies set limits on the amount of paid leave an employee can have at any given time, and unused leave may be forfeited if the limit is exceeded.
- Use-It-or-Lose-It Policies: Some companies have policies that do not permit carrying over unused leave to the next year, leading to loss of leave if not utilized. This can vary by employer.
- Maintaining Work-Life Balance: Taking paid leave allows employees to disconnect from work, reduce stress, and ensure overall well-being.
- Legal Requirements: Certain jurisdictions may require employers to pay out unused vacation time upon employment termination, but this varies by state or region.
- Your accrued paid leave might be a significant aspect in the increased focus from your employer or HR team. By May 31, 2025, you'll need to utilize all the paid leave you've earned since June 1, 2024, as it cannot be rolled over or carried forward under normal circumstances.
- In the realm of real estate, finance, and business, these sectors often have their own reference periods for paid leave, impacting when and how leave can be taken. For instance, employees in construction or entertainment industries may have a different reference period, usually from April 1 to March 31 each year.
