What Happens to My Earned Vacation Time if My Employer Changes Its Policies?

Because employment in Massachusetts is "at will," an employer under most circumstances can legally change the terms and conditions of your employment as it sees fit. This applies to compensation and also to vacation time.

But vacation time, once accrued under the employer's policies, is considered part of your earned wages that can either be used or paid out at the end of your employment.

If you accrue vacation time, and then your employer changes its policies- say, to move to unlimited vacation, or to limit the amount of time you can roll over from year to year- you may be entitled to that vacation time when your employment terminates, or at least sufficient notice and time to use any remaining time before it is lost.

Learn more here about vacation policy changes in Massachusetts.