GALVESTON — A new paid time off policy from the University of Texas Medical Branch is drawing sharp criticism from employees, some of whom say they’re being forced to choose between losing time off they’ve earned or sacrificing financial compensation.

UTMB announced its transition to a new system called myPTO Max, which goes into effect January 3, 2026. Under the new policy, employees must decide by October whether to receive half the value of their accrued PTO spread across three years, or keep their existing balance and forgo earning new vested PTO going forward.

The medical branch says the changes are necessary to manage what it calls an unsustainable financial liability. In a statement provided to KGTX 7, UTMB said:

“Under the current plan, UTMB has a liability for unused PTO that has grown to a level that is financially unsustainable long-term for the organization. These changes are necessary now to responsibly manage resources while continuing to offer valuable benefits to our employees.”

But for many staff members, the shift feels more like a betrayal than a benefit.

“We earned our PTO through years of dedicated service… Now, being told we’ll only receive 50% of that earned time is nothing short of a slap in the face,” wrote one longtime employee in a letter to KGTX 7.

One staffer told us they have 291 hours of unused PTO, with just four months left to use it — or risk losing half its value. But taking that much time off at once, they said, would leave their unit short-staffed and their patients vulnerable.

“This decision disproportionately affects long-term employees—the very people who train new staff and uphold stability,” the employee said.

Another UTMB worker said the policy hits especially hard as she prepares for maternity leave.

“I’ve been saving my PTO for FMLA so I could have paid time off with my baby in February. But under this policy, I’ll lose thousands of dollars in PTO just before giving birth,” she wrote. “Then I’ll have no PTO or extended illness bank left when I return to work — so if I or my kids get sick, I’ll have to take unpaid time.”

Several employees also raised concerns about how the policy change was communicated, claiming they were left in the dark while rumors circulated for months. One worker said she learned the details not through an official announcement, but from a leaked internal PowerPoint shared with management.

“This should be blown out of the water. People need to be aware of what’s going on,” she wrote.

In response, UTMB told KGTX 7 the policy change is fully compliant with state and federal labor law, and emphasized that enrollment in myPTO Max is voluntary. The university also stated that the updated benefits include more flexibility and front-loaded PTO at the start of each calendar year.

Still, many employees feel it isn’t voluntary, and say they feel the change punishes loyalty and sacrifices made during the most difficult years in healthcare.

“This isn’t just about PTO. It’s about how you value the people who’ve stood by this hospital through hurricanes, freezes, and COVID. We deserve better.”

KGTX 7 has confirmed an on-camera interview with UTMB’s Chief Financial Officer, Jamie Bailey. That conversation is currently being rescheduled and is expected to air sometime within the week of August 10th.

Employees impacted by the policy can continue sharing their experiences with KGTX 7’s Consumer Affairs Team by emailing: consumer@kgtx7news.com.

Photo credit: Alberto Giuliani