PTO
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Paid time off |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Business & Finance, Education & Academia, Writing & Everyday, Transportation & Travel, Sports |
PTO has five meanings. The most common are Paid time off (human resources) and Parent Teacher Organization (K-12 education); it can also stand for Please turn over, Power take-off and Professional tryout.
Meanings of PTO at a glance
| # | PTO stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paid time off | Business & Finance › Human Resources |
| 2 | Parent Teacher Organization | Education & Academia › K-12 Education |
| 3 | Please turn over | Writing & Everyday › Mail and Postal |
| 4 | Power take-off | Transportation & Travel › Automotive |
| 5 | Professional tryout | Sports › Ice Hockey |
1. Paid time off
Business & Finance · Human Resources Abbreviations · also used in general use
Leave for which an employee continues to be paid, often a single bank of days that combines vacation, personal and sick time, accrued per pay period or granted up front each year. Policies set how much can be carried over and whether unused time is paid out.
Example: I have 12 days of PTO left, so I'm taking the week after Christmas.
US federal law does not require paid vacation, which makes the US unusual among wealthy countries; any entitlement comes from employer policy or state and local sick-leave laws. Some states, notably California, treat earned vacation as wages that must be paid out when employment ends and ban "use it or lose it" forfeiture. "Unlimited PTO" policies avoid payout liability, and studies suggest employees under them sometimes take less time off.
2. Parent Teacher Organization
Education & Academia · K-12 Education Abbreviations
Independent parent-teacher group at a single school that, unlike a PTA, does not belong to a state or national association and pays no dues to one. PTOs focus on local fundraising, volunteering and community events.
Example: Our PTO pays for the fifth-grade field trip and teacher appreciation week.
The choice between PTA and PTO usually reflects whether parents want national advocacy and resources or full local control of money and rules. Some groups use other names, such as Home and School Association or booster club. PTOs typically register as nonprofit organizations for tax purposes.
3. Please turn over
Writing & Everyday · Mail and Postal Abbreviations
Written at the bottom of a page, card or form to tell the reader that the text continues on the back. It is chiefly British and Commonwealth usage.
Example: The exam paper's first page ended with "PTO" in the bottom right corner.
PTO is common on handwritten letters, exam papers, school worksheets and printed forms. American English more often uses "over" or "continued on back." In US workplaces, PTO means paid time off, so the setting decides which is meant.
4. Power take-off
Transportation & Travel · Automotive Abbreviations
Shaft or gearbox drive that lets a truck or tractor engine power external equipment such as pumps, winches, dump beds, mowers and balers. Farm tractors use standardized splined PTO shafts at the rear.
Example: The tow truck's PTO drives the hydraulic pump that runs the boom and winch.
Standard tractor PTO speeds are 540 and 1,000 rpm, defined by ASABE and ISO standards. Unguarded spinning PTO shafts have caused many serious farm injuries, so shields and safe practices are emphasized in agricultural safety training. In workplaces, PTO more often means paid time off.
5. Professional tryout
Sports · Ice Hockey Abbreviations
Agreement letting a veteran NHL player attend a team's training camp and play preseason games without a contract, so the team can evaluate him before deciding whether to sign him.
Example: The 35-year-old winger earned a one-year deal after a strong PTO in camp.
PTOs do not count against the salary cap. Teams use them for veterans who remained unsigned through free agency. In business, PTO usually means paid time off.
Related abbreviations
More human resources abbreviations
- PFL – Paid family leave
- PHR – Professional in Human Resources
- PIP – Performance improvement plan
- PT – Part-time
- QLE – Qualifying life event
- req – Requisition
- RIF – Reduction in force
- RPO – Recruitment process outsourcing
See all 86 human resources abbreviations →