If its unscheduled leave you need to give a reason in almost all jobs. If its scheduled leave, you can keep it at just vacation.

Nanny here. My PTO is separated into vacation time and sick time. My vacation time has to be given in advance and my sick days are to only be used if needed, and they are neither transferable nor paid out. I would never think of abusing my sick days and VERY rarely need one.

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

Private sector attorney here. Both my current and prior employer have the same policies.

Anonymous wrote:

Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

Not a fed, but my company has these same policies.

Yep, I'm in a non-profit and these are virtually the same as our policies.

This isn't really a legal matter, more a "company" policy issue. Your boss can ask whatever they like about why you're taking leave. You don't have to answer, and if that's an issue, then perhaps that boss/company/family isn't for you. I'm a nanny, and make a point of not going into detail about why I'm calling out (I don't want my boss picturing me puking my brains out) and a simple I'm not feeling well, won't make it in today has always sufficed. An employer that questioned me further or demanded verification would be too high strung for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

How many days do you get? What other benefits? I'm guessing your not a secretary.

No, not a secretary, but all federal employees have the same leave rules. I also worked at two places in the private sector that had similar setups. I've worked in two private sector offices and three federal offices with maybe 6 or so supervisors and they all expected an explanation for leave, whether due to illness or for vacation.

Same as 18:16. I normally explain why I am taking the time since I know my boss will want to know anyway.

Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

Not a fed, but my company has these same policies.

Anonymous wrote:Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

How many days do you get? What other benefits? I'm guessing your not a secretary.

I don't have to give a reason (although I always have) but I am required to give at least a months notice.

Fed here. For sick days, if my supervisor feels he/she needs justification, a doctors note can absolutely be required. If he/she feels that I'm abusing leave, I can get disciplined. For annual leave, I have to submit it in advance and it can be denied based on mission requirements or others being out already. And if I do take leave, my work has to be made up later.

No, you are not required to disclose anything...nor should you.

Does your boss at the office let you know if s/he agrees with your reason to take a PTO? If your boss doesn't like your plan and would rather you come in to work "just because", will you?