Question: I'm currently working for a company in Phoenix AZ, in a position that only has a specific amount of paid time off (PTO) there are no dedicated 'sick days', just PTO.

What I'm starting to realize is that this means any time I'm too sick to come into work, I'm losing a day of a future vacation, therefore pushing out the date that I would be able to take a similar-length vacation by a month (How long it takes me to re-accrue that PTO).

Many other positions I've been in recognize the concept of taking [either paid or unpaid] time off for illnesses, or to get things done that come up (Like if you have to handle a personal matter during the day, as many businesses that you have to interact are only open during the weekdays).

However, the one I'm working in right now only has PTO.

**Is it common for companies to give just PTO time, and not provide employees separate amounts of time to take for sick leave?**

**Is this something that I should consider when evaluating how much I'm being compensated in future positions?**

It seems like something that I overlooked when accepting this offer, as I feel that it's going to have an impact on how frequently I can actually take vacations.

Answer: 
> 
> Is is common for companies to give just PTO time, and not provide
>  employees separate amounts of time to take for sick leave?
> 
> 
> 

I've worked for several companies that used PTO rather than separate vacation/sick time. 

I'm not sure if it's common, but it's not all that unusual. And it's perfectly normal.

At least for me, it never became a big deal. But then I almost never take sick time anyway.

> 
> Is this something that I should consider when evaluating how much I'm
>  being compensated in future positions?
> 
> 
> 

You should consider the entire benefits package when choosing your next employer.
I can't speak for other states but Massachusetts now has an Earned Sick Time law on the books. So sick time would be separate from vacation time.

> 
> Employers with 11 or more employees must provide paid sick time. 
>  Employers with fewer than 11 employees must provide earned sick time,
>  but it does not need to be paid.
> 
> 
> 

[Earned Sick Time for Massachusetts](http://www.mass.gov/ago/doing-business-in-massachusetts/workplace-rights/leave-time/earned-sick-time.html)