Are employers obligated to provide employee vacations?

In California, employers are not required by law to offer vacation time or paid time off (PTO) to employees. However, if an employer does offer vacation time or PTO, the employer must follow the terms of their own policy. For example, the employer must provide vacation time or PTO as promised in the policy and must make sure that the employee has the opportunity to use the vacation time or PTO. Employees may also be eligible for protection under the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), which provides workers with the right to take up to 12 weeks of leave for a serious health condition, to take care of a family member with a serious health condition, or to take care of a newborn, adopted or foster child. During this leave, an employer must hold the employee’s job or an equivalent position with comparable pay and benefits. Employers are not required to compensate employees for vacation or PTO, except if they are covered by the CFRA in which case they may be eligible for paid leave. Additionally, employers may also be required to pay out unused vacation or PTO upon termination of employment, depending on the terms of their policy. Overall, employers in California are not obligated to provide vacation or paid time off to their employees, but those that do must abide by any applicable local, state, or federal law and their own policy.

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Are employers obligated to provide employee vacations?

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