Paid time off (PTO) is an important workplace benefit that allows employees to take vacation, get sick, or attend to personal matters without losing pay. LinkedIn, as a major tech company, offers generous PTO policies to attract and retain top talent. But how much PTO does LinkedIn actually provide? Let’s take a closer look at LinkedIn’s PTO policies for new hires and tenured employees to get a sense of how much time off LinkedIn employees can expect.
PTO for New LinkedIn Employees
When first starting at LinkedIn, new hires receive a standard amount of PTO based on their position and tenure in the tech industry. Here’s an overview of the PTO new LinkedIn employees receive:
Entry-level employees
Entry-level employees at LinkedIn, which includes recent college graduates and those early in their careers, receive 15 days of PTO per year. This PTO allotment includes sick time and vacation days.
15 days of PTO is on the lower end compared to other major tech firms, but provides a decent amount of time off for employees just entering the workforce. Those in entry-level roles can use their 15 days to take two 1-week vacations, take time off for illnesses, attend weddings or other events, and more.
Mid-level employees
For mid-level employees, LinkedIn grants 20 days of PTO. Mid-level employees have a few years of professional experience and include managers, senior engineers, and other seasoned individual contributors.
The extra 5 days compared to entry-level roles allow mid-level employees more flexibility in taking time off for travel and staying home with sick family members. With 20 days of PTO, mid-level employees could take a 2-week vacation and have a full week leftover for personal days.
Senior-level employees
The most tenured employees at LinkedIn – senior managers, directors, VPs, and other seasoned leaders – receive 25 days of PTO per year upon starting.
The 10 additional days compared to entry-level roles give senior employees ample time off to recharge and handle personal matters. Senior-level hires could use their 25 days to take multiple long vacations and still have days left over for doctor appointments, sick time, and mental health breaks.
Executives
For C-level executives like the CEO, CFO, CTO, and other LinkedIn top brass, PTO allotments are negotiated individually in their employment contracts. While exact executive PTO numbers are not publicly available, it’s reasonable to expect LinkedIn executives receive at least 30 days off to remain competitive with other elite tech firms.
With 30+ days and flexible scheduling, LinkedIn executives can take lavish vacations, attend conferences and events, and disconnect entirely as needed without tapping into unpaid time off.
PTO for Tenured LinkedIn Employees
In addition to the starting PTO allotments, LinkedIn employees accrue more days off as they remain with the company. Here is how much additional PTO tenured employees earn:
| Years at LinkedIn | Additional PTO Days |
| 0-2 years | 0 days |
| 3-5 years | 5 days |
| 6-10 years | 10 days |
| 10-15 years | 15 days |
| 15+ years | 20 days |
As shown in the table, employees gain more PTO after milestone anniversaries at 3 years, 6 years, 10 years, and 15 years. This allows long-tenured staff to earn up to 20 additional days off.
Here are some examples of the total PTO long-standing employees receive:
– A senior manager with 8 years at LinkedIn would have 25 starting days plus 10 tenure days, totalling 35 days of PTO.
– An engineering director with 12 years at LinkedIn would have 25 starting days plus 15 tenure days, totalling 40 days of PTO.
– A VP with 18 years at LinkedIn would have 30 starting days (estimated exec PTO) plus 20 tenure days, totalling 50 days off.
The increasing tenure-based PTO allows loyal employees to take more vacations, visit family abroad, and prevent burnout after many years at the company. Employees who have been at LinkedIn 10+ years can take exceptionally long sabbaticals while remaining on payroll.
How LinkedIn’s PTO Compares to Other Tech Firms
Compared to other major technology companies, LinkedIn offers strong but not exceptional PTO benefits. Here’s how LinkedIn’s PTO stacks up against other tech leaders:
| Company | Starting PTO Days |
| 15-25 days | |
| 15-20 days | |
| Apple | 14-20 days |
| Netflix | Unlimited |
| 15-30 days |
LinkedIn nearly matches Facebook and Apple’s PTO for new hires across seniority levels. However, tech giants like Netflix and Google offer unlimited and up to 30 days PTO to attract top-tier workers in the war for talent.
For tenured PTO, LinkedIn is more competitive. Few companies offer the additional 20 days after 15 years that LinkedIn provides loyal employees. The unlimited PTO model from Netflix also levels off over time, making LinkedIn’s tenure PTO a better benefit.
While not the absolute most generous, LinkedIn’s strong PTO policies remain attractive compared to non-tech companies. Employees who join LinkedIn can expect ample time off to avoid burnout.
Considerations Around LinkedIn’s PTO Policies
When evaluating LinkedIn’s PTO offering, some important nuances to consider include:
– PTO policies can vary based on location – international LinkedIn offices may have different legal standards for time off compared to US offices.
– Unlimited PTO policies at some tech companies still come with unwritten rules around norms for days taken. LinkedIn’s transparent set days may have more flexibility.
– Seniority level impacts PTO allotments, with executives receiving the most time off. Lower level employees may have less coverage for vacations and illnesses.
– Tenure-based PTO rewards employee loyalty with extra days off earned over time. This incentivizes staff to remain at LinkedIn long-term.
– Days off are useless if a toxic overwork culture prevents employees from taking PTO. LinkedIn employees should feel comfortable using all allotted days.
– State laws mandating sick time are separate from PTO. LinkedIn must provide sick days in locations like California with protected sick leave.
– Total rewards like bonuses, equity, and healthcare also factor into overall compensation. Generous PTO may tradeoff with other areas.
While evaluating PTO days alone doesn’t provide the full picture, it is an important facet of LinkedIn’s employee value proposition. Candidates should carefully weigh time off policies when considering job offers.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn provides strong PTO benefits to its employees. New entry-level hires receive 15 days off while senior employees and executives may get 25-30 days when starting. Tenured staff then earn 5-20 additional days every few years. This tenure-based PTO allows long-time employees to take up to 50 total days off annually.
While not the highest in tech, LinkedIn’s PTO demonstrates a commitment to preventing burnout through ample vacation time. The days also nearly match other top tech firms like Facebook and Apple. For employees who value work-life balance, LinkedIn’s PTO presents an attractive benefit.
