The final quarter of the yr is sort of right here, which implies there’s just a few extra months to make use of up the remainder of your paid day off.
Information persistently exhibits People do not take full benefit of all their paid trip days, in accordance with the U.S. Journey Affiliation.
A 2025 FlexJobs survey of greater than 3,000 US employees discovered that whereas most had PTO, many averted utilizing it. Forty-two % of respondents took one to 10 days off, whereas 23% hadn’t taken a single trip day within the prior yr.
However simply as employees aren’t leveraging their PTO, analysis additionally emphasizes the significance of doing so. Taking day off from work advantages well being and well-being and reduces the danger of burnout, per the American Psychological Affiliation.
There are formally lower than 100 days left in 2026. This is what to know for these trying to maximize their PTO for the remainder of the yr – which is simpler this yr on condition that some main federal holidays fall close to a weekend.
maximize your PTO days
The simplest strategy to maximize your paid trip days is by planning them round present holidays and lengthy weekends.
By gaming the calendar, employees can stretch one PTO day into 4 consecutive days off, for instance.
There are 11 federal holidays in 2026, with 4 nonetheless remaining for the remainder of the yr.
If configured accurately, employees can flip 11 PTO days into a complete of 27 days off for the remainder of the yr.
Information exhibits American employees usually do not take full benefit of their paid trip days.
What number of federal holidays are left in 2026?
There are 4 federal holidays remaining in 2026:
Columbus Day – Monday, Oct. 12
Veterans Day – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, Nov. 26
Christmas Day – Friday, Dec. 25
Whereas not technically in 2026, New 12 months’s Day 2027 (Jan. 1) falls on a Friday this yr, that means the final work week of the yr is capped off by the vacation.
Which days to request off to maximise PTO for the remainder of 2026
Though there are solely 4 federal holidays left in 2026, you possibly can request your trip days across the holidays to show 11 PTO days into a complete of 27 days off for the remainder of the yr.
This is how:
Columbus Day – Monday, Oct. 12
Request PTO for: Friday, Oct. 9
Consecutive days off: 4 days (Oct. 9-12)
Veterans Day – Wednesday, Nov. 11
Request PTO for: Monday, Nov. 9 and Tuesday Nov. 10 or Thursday, Nov. 12 and Friday, Nov. 13
Consecutive days off: 5 days (Nov. 7-11 or Nov. 11-15)
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, Nov. 26
Request PTO for: Monday, Nov. 23, Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25 and (as wanted) Friday, Nov. 27
Consecutive days off: 9 days (Nov. 21–29)
Christmas Day – Friday, Dec. 25
Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 21, Tuesday, Dec. 22, Wednesday, Dec. 23, and (as wanted) Thursday, Dec. 24
Consecutive days off: 9 days (Dec. 19-27)
New 12 months’s Day 2027 may help stretch your PTO
Additionally, with New 12 months’s Day falling on a Friday, you may also maximize your day off for the tip of the yr into the primary week of 2027 in two other ways. This is how:
Mix weeks of Christmas and New 12 months’s Day
Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 21, Tuesday, Dec. 22, Wednesday, Dec. 23, Thursday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 28, Tuesday, Dec. 29, Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31
Consecutive days off: 16 days (Dec. 19-Jan. 3)
Simply New 12 months’s Day week
Request PTO for: Monday, Dec. 28, Tuesday, Dec. 29, Wednesday, Dec. 30 and Thursday, Dec. 31
Consecutive days off: 10 days (Dec. 25-Jan. 3)
Contributing: Zach Wichter
Melina Khan is a nationwide trending reporter for USA TODAY. Sustain together with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: There are lower than 100 days left in 2026. maximize your PTO
