Unpaid Time Off Calculator
Taking unpaid leave? See the daily rate payroll deducts and what that paycheck becomes.
Assumes the unpaid days fall in one pay period. Gross figures before taxes.
How employers compute unpaid time off
Method A gives one constant daily rate all year (260 = 52 weeks × 5 days). Method B ties the rate to the specific period, so a day off in a short February costs slightly more than in a long month. Both are legitimate — payroll just has to be consistent.
Worked example
$60,000 salary, biweekly checks of $2,307.69, taking 3 unpaid days. Daily rate: $60,000 ÷ 260 = $230.77. Deduction: 3 × $230.77 = $692.31, so that paycheck drops to $1,615.38 gross.
The rules for salaried (exempt) employees
- Full-day absences for personal reasons can be deducted — that’s the classic unpaid personal day.
- Partial days generally cannot be docked for exempt employees. Leave two hours early and your salary must stay whole (the time can come out of a PTO bank, but not your pay).
- Sickness: full-day deductions are allowed only under a bona fide sick-leave plan (or before you qualify / after you exhaust it).
- FMLA leave is the exception that allows partial-day docking — intermittent FMLA can be unpaid by the hour without breaking exempt status.
- Hourly (non-exempt) workers are simpler: unpaid time off just means those hours aren’t on the timesheet.
Before you take unpaid days
- Benefits usually continue during short unpaid stretches, but your share of premiums may be collected from the reduced check — the net hit can exceed the gross math above.
- 401(k) contributions pause for pay you don't receive (no pay, no deferral, no match on it).
- Check whether your employer requires exhausting PTO first — many do.
Frequently asked questions
How much does one unpaid day cost me?
Under the ÷260 convention: annual salary ÷ 260. On $60,000 that is $230.77 per day; on $80,000, $307.69. Enter your salary above for the exact figure and the paycheck impact.
Can my employer dock my salary for a two-hour absence?
If you are exempt (salaried, no overtime): generally no — partial-day salary docking violates the salary-basis test, except under intermittent FMLA. They can deduct the hours from your PTO bank. If you are non-exempt, unpaid hours simply aren’t paid.
Do unpaid days reduce my PTO accrual or benefits?
They can. Accrual formulas based on hours paid will accrue less; extended unpaid leave can affect benefits eligibility and holiday pay (many policies require working the day before/after a holiday). Short stretches usually change nothing except the paycheck.
Is taking unpaid time off better than negative PTO?
Going “PTO negative” (borrowing) keeps your paycheck whole now, but the debt is typically clawed back from your final paycheck if you leave. Unpaid time off takes the hit immediately and cleanly. If you might change jobs soon, unpaid is usually simpler.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-20 · Report an issue