Glossary

PTO Carryover

PTO carryover (or roll-over) is unused paid time off that moves from one period into the next instead of being lost. Policies usually cap how much can carry over and by when it must be used.

How it works

  • A policy sets a carryover cap and often an expiry date (for example, use it by the end of Q1).
  • Days beyond the cap are forfeited, or in some places paid out, subject to local law.
  • Carryover interacts with PTO accrual: a low cap limits how much a high accrual rate can bank.

Why it matters

Carryover rules affect morale, liability on the books, and year-end planning. Getting them right needs accurate balances, which depend on recorded work and leave.

How Sandtime.io fits

Sandtime.io keeps the worked hours and approved leave that determine a carryover balance in one reviewable record, so year-end numbers are easy to trust.

PTO carryover applies to paid time off and annual leave, and its size depends on the PTO accrual rate and cap.

Related Terms

Explore other time tracking and workforce management definitions.

PTO Accrual

How paid time off builds up over time - a set amount earned per period worked - instead of being granted all at once.

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Annual Leave

The paid holiday an employee is entitled to each year for rest, with a statutory minimum in most countries (at least four weeks under the EU directive).

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Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid leave an employee can take while still being paid, such as vacation, personal days, and often sick days, usually pooled into one bank of days.

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