PTO most commonly stands for Paid Time Off , which is a workplace benefit that combines vacation days, sick days, and personal days into a single bank of hours that employees can use for any reason, usually with pay

. This system allows employees flexibility in taking time off without having to specify the reason, and it is widely used in the United States where there is no federal mandate on minimum paid vacation time

. Other notable meanings of PTO include:

• Please Turn Over : An abbreviation used at the bottom of a page to indicate that there is more information on the reverse side

• Power Take-Off : A mechanical device on vehicles like tractors that transfers power from the engine to other equipment

• Parent Teacher Organization : A school-related group involving parents and teachers

The context usually clarifies which meaning of PTO is intended, but in employment and HR contexts, "Paid Time Off" is the most prevalent usage