MyPTO Maximization Program

Enrollment Options – Vested PTO Hours

UTMB will transition to the new MyPTO Maximization Program on Jan. 3, 2026. As part of this process, all PTO hours accrued and unused under the current program will be designated as vested PTO hours. These hours will be managed according to the enrollment option selected by each employee during the October 2025 election period.

Vested PTO Hours

Vested PTO hours are defined as all PTO hours accrued under the current leave program and unused as of Jan. 2, 2026. These hours are eligible for either payout or continued use, depending on the enrollment option selected.

Enrollment Options

Employees will be able to choose from three enrollment options for managing their vested PTO hours.

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  • Immediate Enrollment Option

    Employees who choose the Immediate Enrollment option will have all their accrued and unused PTO hours moved into a new Vested PTO Hours account in Kronos. Their original PTO account will be closed.

    • These hours will be frozen and paid out to employees in three equal installments on Jan. 16, 2026, Jan. 15, 2027, and Jan. 14, 2028. (Note: If an employee’s total estimated payout is $1,200 or less, the full amount will be paid on Jan. 16, 2026.)
    • Payments will be calculated at 50% of their hourly base pay rate as of Dec. 31, 2025.
    • Employees who want to enhance their retirement savings can contribute these payments to a voluntary retirement account on a pre-tax (Traditional) or post-tax (Roth) basis. See the UT System Deferring Annual Leave website for more details.
    • Once all payments have been made and the balance is exhausted, the Vested PTO Hours account will be closed.

    Employees will also receive an annual, upfront grant of PTO hours on Jan. 3, 2026, which will be credited to a new Paid Time Off Grant account.

    • The number of hours granted will be based on their total years of state service and FTE status.
    • The hours will be subject to the new program’s 40-hour carryforward limit (prorated for FTE status). Any unused PTO hours above the limit after Dec. 31 will be forfeited.
  • Deferred Enrollment Option

    Employees who choose the Deferred Enrollment option will retain their vested PTO hours in their current PTO account in Kronos and continue to use them until the balance is fully exhausted.

    • Once the vested PTO balance is exhausted, employees will receive a prorated PTO grant for the remainder of the calendar year, based on their total years of state service and FTE status.
    • These hours will be credited to a new Paid Time Off Grant account, and the original PTO account will be closed.
    • The 40-hour carryforward limit will only apply to the hours in their Paid Time Off Grant account.
  • Draw Down Enrollment Option

    Employees who choose the Draw Down Enrollment option will have three calendar years (2026, 2027, and 2028) to use their vested PTO hours.

    • The vested PTO hours will be divided equally into three new accounts in Kronos—VPH2026, VPH2027, and VPH2028—and the original PTO account will be closed.
    • Employees will be expected to use the hours in each account before the end of that calendar year.
    • Any unused hours from that year’s allocation will be paid out to employees at 50% of their hourly base pay rate as of Dec. 31, 2025.
    • Payments will be issued in January 2027, January 2028, and January 2029.
    • Employees who want to enhance their retirement savings can contribute these payments to a voluntary retirement account on a pre-tax (Traditional) or post-tax (Roth) basis. See the UT System Deferring Annual Leave website for more details.

    Employees will also receive an annual, upfront grant of PTO hours on Jan. 3, 2026, which will be credited to a new Paid Time Off Grant account.

    • The number of hours granted will be based on their total years of state service and FTE status.
    • The hours will be subject to the new program’s 40-hour carryforward limit (prorated for FTE status). Any unused PTO hours above the limit after Dec. 31 will be forfeited.
    • The granted PTO hours can only be used after the vested PTO hours allocated for that calendar year have been exhausted.

Transition Note: These enrollment options apply only to the PTO provisions of the MyPTO Maximization Program and the handling of existing PTO balances. Employees will be subject to all other program provisions on Jan. 3, 2026.

Election Process

From Oct. 1–31, 2025, employees will be required to make a one-time, irrevocable election on how they want to manage their vested PTO hours.

  • All enrollment elections must be submitted through an online form in Employee Self-Service.
  • No changes to the form will be accepted after Oct. 31.
  • Employees who do not make an election by the Oct. 31 deadline will be defaulted into the Immediate Enrollment option.

More information on the election process will be provided closer to the October 2025 election period. 

Separation of Employment

Employees who separate from UTMB will receive a lump-sum payout for any remaining vested PTO hours, regardless of their enrollment option. Payment will be calculated at 100% of their hourly base pay rate at the time of separation.

Employees who want to enhance their retirement savings can contribute this payment to a voluntary retirement account on a pre-tax (Traditional) or post-tax (Roth) basis. See the UT System Deferring Annual Leave website for more details.

No payment will be received for any unused PTO hours granted under the new program.

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