Time-Out Zone

Reset PTO on the calendar year or each work anniversary

Pick the cycle per leave type. Time-Out Zone closes the old cycle, applies your carry-over rules, and grants the fresh allotment automatically.

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How companies run their leave year

61%

of US employers reset PTO on each employee's hire-date anniversary

14%

reset every balance together on the calendar year

17%

front-load the full allotment at the start of the year

Jan 1

the standard leave year start in Germany

Time-Out Zone supports calendar and anniversary cycles, per leave type.

Calendar cycle

One boundary for everyone. Balances run January 1 to December 31, which keeps reporting and planning simple.

Anniversary cycle

Each employee's cycle starts on their hire date. Everyone gets a full year to use their days, whenever they joined.

A fresh allotment, model-aware

At the boundary, lump-sum types grant the full year upfront, accrual types start at zero and fill up, hybrid grants the upfront part.

Automatic processing

Cycle ends are processed automatically every day. No manual year-end close, no spreadsheet ritual.

Built to be predictable

Per leave type

Vacation can run on the calendar year while sick leave follows the work anniversary.

Locked after creation

The cycle is chosen when the leave type is created and stays fixed, so balances never jump between rules.

Your timezone

Resets are gated on your company's local date, not a server clock.

Hand-off to carry-over

At the boundary, each leave type's carry-over policy decides what happens to unused days.

Every reset is recorded once, with a durable audit entry. Re-runs never double a balance.

Choice

A leave year that fits how you hire

Choose the calendar or the work anniversary for each leave type when you create it.

  • Calendar: one shared boundary, simplest to administer.
  • Anniversary: a rolling boundary per employee, fair for mid-year joiners.

Boundary

What actually happens at cycle end

The old cycle closes, the carry-over policy runs, and the new allotment is granted in one automatic pass.

  • Negative balances are reconciled by your policy: deduct, forgive, or charge.
  • Every processed reset leaves an audit record.

Hires

Fair balances from day one

On calendar cycles, new joiners get a day-precise prorated allotment for the remainder of the year.

  • Anniversary cycles give each person a full year from their start date.
  • Waiting periods and tenure rules key off the same start date.

Automation

A cycle end you never chase

Processing runs daily and respects each company's timezone, so the reset lands on your local date.

  • Works with lump-sum, accrual, and hybrid grant models.
  • No manual year-end close, ever.

More resources

Feature

Carry-over policies

Feature

Grant models

Feature

Opening balances import

Ready to get started?

Give us a call. We'll pick the right cycle for each of your leave types together.

Carry-Over

Decide what happens to unused days at cycle end.

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Grant Models

Grant time off upfront, through accrual, or both.

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Frequently asked questions

When does PTO reset?
PTO resets at the start of the leave year, most often on January 1 or on each employee's hire-date anniversary. The exact date depends on the employer's policy. In Time-Out Zone every leave type runs on a calendar or anniversary cycle and resets automatically at its boundary.
Does PTO reset every year?
Yes, most PTO plans run on a yearly cycle. What happens to unused days depends on the carry-over policy: they can roll over, be capped, or be forfeited. Time-Out Zone applies the leave type's carry-over rule automatically before granting the new year's allotment.
What is the difference between a calendar year and an anniversary PTO cycle?
A calendar cycle resets every balance together on January 1, which is simple to administer. An anniversary cycle resets each employee on their hire date, giving everyone a full year. Time-Out Zone supports both, chosen per leave type.
Can each leave type have its own reset cycle?
In most systems the cycle is one company-wide setting. Time-Out Zone sets the cycle per leave type, so vacation can follow the calendar year while sick leave follows each employee's work anniversary, each resetting automatically on its own boundary.
What happens to PTO when someone joins mid-year?
On a calendar cycle a mid-year hire receives a prorated allotment for the remaining part of the year, calculated to the day. On an anniversary cycle the personal year simply starts at the hire date. Time-Out Zone computes both automatically.