Topic
United States — leave guides
PTO rules in the US are unusually fragmented — federal, state, and employer-by-employer. The posts below cover statutory minimums (or the lack thereof), state laws on cashout and forfeiture, federal holidays, and the leave-strategy moves that work in a US workplace.
12 articles
Articles in this topic
- Tools
Vacation Payout Calculator: What You're Owed When You Quit, State by State
Calculate exactly what your unused PTO is worth on your final paycheck. Inputs, formulas, tax withholding, and a 50-state summary of payout requirements.
2026-06-0710 min - Travel Tips
Visa-on-Arrival vs eVisa vs Pre-Arranged: Timing Math for US Passport Holders
A 90-minute visa-on-arrival queue costs you the first evening of a 5-day trip. Here's when eVisa beats VOA, when consulate visas are unavoidable, and the actual time math by destination.
2026-06-0511 min - Strategy
Fertility Leave Laws by US State: Where Workers Have Real Protections
Federal law is mostly silent on fertility-specific leave. A handful of states have built real protections, and a different handful have built insurance mandates that change the financial math. Here is the state-by-state landscape, with citations to the underlying statutes.
2026-05-1315 min - Holiday Guide
Annual Leave in Germany: Urlaubsanspruch Explained
A complete guide to annual leave entitlements in Germany, covering the Bundesurlaubsgesetz, carry-over rules, state-by-state public holidays, and how to maximise your Urlaubsanspruch.
2026-05-0710 min - Holiday Guide
UK vs US Leave: How the Two Systems Compare
A data-driven comparison of UK and US annual leave systems, covering statutory entitlements, public holidays, sick leave, and bridging strategies for workers on both sides of the Atlantic.
2026-05-0511 min - Strategy
What BLS Data Tells Us About American PTO in 2026
A close read of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employee Benefits Survey: how PTO access, vacation days by tenure, industry, and firm size really break down for American workers in 2026.
2026-05-0112 min - Strategy
UK vs US: Who Actually Gets More Time Off?
The UK mandates 5.6 weeks. The US mandates zero. But when you factor in public holidays, weekends, and bridge potential, the gap is even bigger than you think.
2026-04-097 min - Holiday Guide
2027 Public Holidays: Start Planning Your Leave Early
The 2027 holiday calendar is already set. Here's every public holiday for the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany -- plus the best bridge opportunities to book now.
2026-04-087 min - Holiday Guide
Regional and State Holidays: The Hidden Days Off Most Workers Miss
Beyond national public holidays, many states and regions grant extra days off. From German Bundesland differences to US state holidays, here are the hidden days most workers overlook.
2026-04-087 min - Holiday Guide
When Is Every Public Holiday in 2026 and 2027? The Complete Calendar
A quick-reference guide to every major public holiday in 2026 and 2027 across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and France -- with the day of the week and bridge potential for each.
2026-04-0810 min - Holiday Guide
Annual Leave Guides by Country: 2026 Edition
Country-by-country breakdown of public holidays, statutory leave entitlements, and the best bridge opportunities for 2026. Plan smarter time off no matter where you work.
2026-04-077 min - Holiday Guide
Every Long Weekend in 2026: A Month-by-Month Guide for US Workers
A complete list of every long weekend opportunity in 2026 for US workers, with the exact PTO days to take for each one.
2026-03-223 min
Related topics
Plan your year, not just your week.
The optimizer ranks every PTO window by leverage.
Open the optimizer