Hello, I work for a small medical office and we have been very accommodating in letting employees take time off unpaid after they used up their PTO. What are the laws regarding unpaid time off. If we allow employees to take unpaid time off – can we restrict the number of days they can take? Do we have to let them take any unpaid time off at all? Also, regarding PTO – can we restrict how the PTO is used – for example only letting them use so many PTO hours per year to take a Friday/Monday off?

Home
/
Hello, I work for a small medical office and we have been very accommodating in letting employees take time off unpaid after they used up their PTO. What are the laws regarding unpaid time off. If we allow employees to take unpaid time off – can we restrict the number of days they can take? Do we have to let them take any unpaid time off at all? Also, regarding PTO – can we restrict how the PTO is used – for example only letting them use so many PTO hours per year to take a Friday/Monday off?

There are no laws governing paid or unpaid time off in Iowa or at the federal level. If you have 15+ employees, you are required to observe the ADA and accommodate employees with disabilities. This may include unpaid time off.

In general, PTO allowances and restrictions are open to your written policies. You will need to decide what you want to allow and disallow for all employees and write the policies as such. Distribute a copy of the policy to all employees and have them sign an acknowledgment of receipt. Set an implementation date – ideally 30 days from the date you notify the workers of the new policy. Then begin enforcing the new PTO policy equally for all employee.

Please let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great day!

October 2018

Iowa