The U.S. government recognizes a list of holidays on its federal calendar. As our workforce, and the many ethnic and religious groups they represent, is far more diverse, the government calendar is not always consistent with each employee’s needs. To increase the inclusiveness of your Paid Time Off (PTO) program this year, consider a more open-minded approach to celebrated days in 2025.
Creating a Balance: Federal and Personal Holidays
Most staff enjoy celebrating New Year’s Day, and U.S. citizens may enjoy the 4th of July weekend, but not everyone celebrates Christmas and Thanksgiving. Other holidays during the winter season include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the Lunar New Year, to name a few, all of which fall on different dates that don’t coincide with federally mandated holidays.
Allowing employees to take time off for their religious holidays, anniversaries, and celebrations fosters an improved work-life balance and worker satisfaction.
How Does PTO Work?
PTO is a group benefit that makes taking days away from work more inclusive. Instead of enforcing a holiday generally perceived as relating to one religious group, it allows staff to choose an alternative day with plenty of advance notice to plan for coverage. PTO groups previously separated categories of paid vacation, personal days, and sick days into one umbrella category to be more easily calculated by your HR department. PTO is primarily earned through work days on the job. For example, one works for one month and earns 1.5 PTO days. By the end of the year, they would have earned 18 days off.
PTO is often considered a “no questions asked” option, making it possible for employees to take the time to handle unexpected life or family situations without reporting being ill or giving a reason for their absence. Whatever the personal reason, the time is deducted from their overall PTO. This system has also been found to reduce the number of sick days employees take, as they prefer to use their PTO for vacation time.
Types of PTO
PTO is an all-inclusive system. Some types of time off that fall into this category include:
- Vacation time
- Sick days
- Personal days
- Parental leave
- Bereavement leaves
- Paid holidays
- National holidays
Great Benefits Help Attract Higher Caliber Staff
By demonstrating your company’s commitment to employee well-being, your PTO program can help attract higher-caliber staff that expect more from their place of work. Increased job satisfaction and higher retention rates are two more reasons that adding PTO to your group benefits package is a good idea. When hiring and onboarding new staff, ensure your personnel director includes information about your PTO and group benefits plans in their welcome briefing.
Curious About More Group Benefits?
Our agents have you covered. If you are looking for new ways to increase the value of commitment in your employees’ eyes, consider discussing your group insurance plan with us. New hires want to know about their healthcare, well-being, and retirement package benefits. Let us help you sound like an expert and make it possible to deliver excellent benefits at a reasonable cost to you.