Survey Shows How New Yorkers Are Using Their PTO

This is something a lot of us are weirdly bad at… taking time off we’ve already earned.

A new survey from Unwind Media looked at how Americans use their paid time off, what they use it for, and why so many people still leave days on the table. And for many in New York, the results feel very familiar.

I used to be that person who left PTO behind every single year. Not because I didn’t need the break, but because I felt guilty taking it. My company doesn’t allow unused days to roll over, so I was literally giving up time I earned. And I still told myself I was being “responsible” by not taking it. Looking back, that mindset did me zero favors.

Thankfully, that has changed. And learning to actually take my days off and not work through them has been one of the healthiest things I’ve done for myself.

Most New Yorkers Are Still Leaving PTO Unused

According to the survey, 66 percent of New Yorkers leave some of their PTO unused each year. On average, that adds up to about 4.4 days that just disappear. That puts New York right in the middle nationally, not the worst, not the best, but still a lot of people giving up almost a full work week of time they earned.

And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Yep, that’s me,” you’re in very good company. For me, it was always some version of “I’ll save it in case something comes up,” or “It’s not a good time right now,” or “They really need me this week.” Except somehow, there was never a good time.

We Want More PTO, Even While Not Using All of It

Here’s the part that made me laugh a little in that painfully relatable way. 64% of New Yorkers say they wish they had more PTO, yet two-thirds are still not using everything they already have. That disconnect usually comes down to workplace culture and personal pressure. Even when days are technically available, many people don’t feel comfortable actually stepping away.

I felt that for years. Like I had to prove I was dedicated by being constantly available. What I eventually realized is that burnout does not make you a better employee, a better parent, or a better human. It just makes you tired and cranky and far less productive than you think you are.

Travel Is Where New Yorkers Actually Use Their Days

This is where New York really stands out. 71% of New Yorkers say they use PTO for travel, the highest percentage in the country. That checks out. When we take time off, we tend to really take time off.

Whether it’s heading out of state, visiting family, or finally taking that trip you’ve been talking about for three years, travel is the top reason we cash in those vacation days.

After travel, the next biggest reasons are being sick and simply needing time to relax, which also feels very realistic. A lot of us are not taking days just because. We’re taking them because we truly need them.

Mental Health Days Are Still Not the Norm, But They Matter

Only about 27 percent of New Yorkers said they use PTO specifically for mental health days. And I get it. It can feel harder to justify staying home when you’re not physically sick or going somewhere.

This is where my mindset has shifted the most over the years. I finally stopped treating mental exhaustion like it didn’t count. Sometimes the most responsible thing you can do is take a day, unplug, and let your nervous system calm down a little. No errands. No email. No “I’ll just check in real quick.”

Most Bosses Aren’t Policing Your Time Off

One of the more interesting parts of the survey is that very few people reported being criticized by their boss for taking too little or too much time off. Only 4% said their boss had criticized them for taking too much time. 9% said they were criticized for taking too much.

So for most people, the pressure isn’t necessarily coming directly from management. It’s coming from within our own heads and from workplace cultures that treat being busy like a badge of honor. Which is wild when you think about how often companies talk about burnout and work-life balance in the same breath.

More Companies Are Allowing PTO to Roll Over, But Not All

Just over half of New Yorkers work for companies that allow unused PTO to roll into the next year. If you’re not in that group, like me, there is an added layer of frustration knowing that if you don’t take the days, they’re just gone.

That’s part of what finally pushed me to change how I treated my time off. I realized I was essentially donating free labor to a company that had already paid me in time. And that time was supposed to be for rest, for family, for life, not just for emergencies.

More New Yorkers Are Planning to Use All Their PTO This Year

Here’s the good news. 62% of New Yorkers say they have used or plan to use all of their PTO this year, which is one of the highest rates in the country. That tells me something is shifting.

People are realizing that rest is not lazy; it is necessary. That taking the days you earned is not selfish, it is part of staying healthy enough to keep doing your job well.

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Taking Time Off Is Not Slacking, It’s Smart

If I could go back and talk to my younger, guilt-ridden, never-taking-a-full-work-free-vacation self, I would tell her this: Your job will survive if you step away for a few days. Your inbox will still be there when you get back, but your mental and physical health need actual breaks, not just weekends where you try to cram in errands and recovery at the same time.

Taking my PTO, truly taking it, and doing my best not to work on my days off has been a game-changer for me. I come back more focused, more creative, and more patient with the everyday stuff that used to feel overwhelming.

So if you’ve got days sitting there and you keep thinking, “I’ll take them later,” maybe this is your sign to put something on the calendar. You worked for those days, you earned them, and you deserve to actually enjoy them.