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If nothing else, maybe ask for the meeting to gain clarification on the benefits package because you have some confusion regarding PTO. That way you aren't potentially coming at it from the upset perspective (which I can totally understand) but from the request for guidance/explanation perspective.

I would for sure ask to "clarify" the package and explain your confusion. the whole point of PTO is paid time off, you should not have to make up those hours, unless you are getting paid for them!

@MarieJ: So you're basically in the internal service center for your firm is what I'm understanding? So isn't all your time spent on the phone?

I agree with @pelikila: and @LuLu Mom! Come at it from a stance of getting clarification of your PTO and how/when it can be used and when (if ever) time needs to be made up. And then maybe you can return to your supervisor and ask for clarification and state what your understanding of the PTO is (that you do not need to make up that time).

@MarieJ: I don't even know how you'd make up the time you missed on the phone! Does your boss expect you to stay late or spend more of your day on the phone or something??? Either way, your boss is crazy - taking vacation shouldn't be something you make up! It's VACATION! I hope you get this figured out soon!!!

@MarieJ: ah ok. That does seem unfair since it's your vacation time and it sucks that the other branches are inconsistent with this one!

My understanding overall though is that they can ask you to do whatever they want while they are paying you. I would be careful with any questions/complaint so it doesn't get traced back to you. Hope it goes well!!

@MarieJ: I think what we're trying to determine is… say you work 9-5 and you usually spend 9-1 on the phone and 1-5 processing documents. Does making up phone time mean that the next 2 days you spend 9-5 on the phone then go home? Or does it mean you have to stay at work late/early so you're actually AT work for 8 more hours?

I would definitely clarify -- whether with your supervisor first or with HR. I think the main thing is they should not be able to have you work EXTRA hours when you take time off...that defeats the purpose of paid time off. But maybe they mean you just have to structure a few days differently to "make up for" that time? Either way, sounds wonky. Hope you get it figured out!

@looch: That's a good approach!

@MarieJ: What I would do, is the following:

Call the office of the supervisor (the guy that is not available a lot because of travel) and speak to his admin (assuming he has one). Say you have an issue that needs clarification regarding a policy and that you would like to set up time on his calendar to discuss. The admin should be able to accomodate you, I've done this a lot when I need to contact very senior level people that travel a lot.

If there is no admin, you can look up the calendar in Outlook (or similar) and schedule a call yourself, with you and your supervisor on the phone. In the meeting details, write out what the issue is and what the proposal is, asking for claification on how you're suppsosed to handle the 4 hours where you are not indexing but making up time.

If you get no response, THEN contact HR.

Good luck, I hope you get the answers you need!

I think the way that @Mr.Bee phrased it is the perfect way to approach it. You aren't questioning your supervisor's policy, you are just trying to be a better employee and get tips.