Avoid PTO Issues With PTO Software

July 9, 2010

Payroll and timesheet software that allows you to automate the "paid time off" (PTO) schedule can greatly improve the efficiency of your workplace. Managers can easily review and approve requests, and employees can see their available balances and make requests for leave in a web-based system that they can access anywhere they have an internet connection.

But what are the true benefits of PTO software? Sure, these features are great to have to make the PTO management process run more smoothly. But the real value lies in how PTO software can help you avoid uncomfortable situations in the workplace that often occur in its absence.

Here are two common problems with a non-automated system:

Situation A: Benjamin wants to go on vacation, but he doesn’t know if he has enough PTO to take a full week, so he wants to arrange for 3 days of vacation and 2 days of sick leave. But when he tries to separate his PTO, he finds that there is only one category.

The solution: Use a PTO software that allows you to categorize time off in a way that fits your organization. You could have a single pool of PTO or specific break-outs for sick and vacation. Moreover, PTO software like iEmployee Online PTO Tracking lends full visibility to employees so they can see their time-off accrual.

Situation B: Cathy wants to take some PTO to attend a friend’s wedding in North Carolina, but unbeknownst to her (or the department manager!) three other people in her department want to do so as well.

Solution: Use a calendar in your PTO software to view all time-off requests (pending, approved, rejected, etc.) to see at a glance if time off can be taken and if there is enough coverage to approve a PTO request. Also, managers and administrators can use a centralized inbox to stay on top of pending approvals and requests, so they can be sure never to let one slip through the cracks and respond to their team in plenty of time.