personal days

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "personal days" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to days off from work that an employee can take for personal reasons, such as mental health or personal matters. Example: "I will be taking two personal days next week." Alternative expressions include "personal leave" and "personal time off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And my personal days, too.

The New Yorker

The first is Ed Park's "Personal Days".

The New Yorker

Instead, regard this as akin to taking personal days.

The New York Times - Magazine

Personal Days, by Ed Park (Random House; $13).

The New Yorker

That's why you shouldn't take too many personal days.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In "Personal Days," Park, like Wang, avoids proper names.

The New Yorker

Another serendipitous find: "Personal Days," by Ed Park.

The New Yorker

Nannies need paid vacations, personal days and sick days.

The New York Times

New employees get six personal days in their first year of service and an additional day for each subsequent year, topping out at 16 personal days.

The New York Times

Mr. Jung does not want to use any personal days during the holiday season next year.

The New York Times

They are taking those saved vacation and personal days, not working overtime.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing employee benefits, clearly define what constitutes a "personal day" and how it differs from sick leave or vacation time. This avoids ambiguity and sets clear expectations.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "personal days" are universally understood to cover the same reasons as sick days or vacation. Some companies restrict their use to specific purposes, so always clarify the policy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "personal days" functions as a noun phrase in sentences, often as a direct object, subject complement, or within prepositional phrases. Ludwig AI's examples show it denoting a benefit or entitlement within employment contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "personal days" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase referring to paid time off for employees to use for personal reasons. Ludwig AI shows that this phrase is most frequently used in news and media, and formal business contexts. It's important to clearly define company policies regarding "personal days" to avoid confusion with other types of leave, such as sick days or vacation time. Considering related alternatives like "personal time off" can offer more formal or encompassing language when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

personal time off

This phrase is a more formal and encompassing term for time off used for personal reasons.

personal leave

Another term for absences from work dedicated to attending to personal matters.

time off for personal reasons

A more descriptive and less concise way to refer to personal days.

discretionary days

This highlights the employee's freedom to choose when and how to use these days.

flexible days

This emphasizes the flexibility in using the time off.

casual leave

This is a common term in some regions for short periods of leave taken for personal reasons.

well-being days

This focuses on the use of time off for mental and physical health.

paid leave

This stresses that the days off are compensated by the employer.

absence days

This is a more general term to refer to days that are not worked for any reason.

unscheduled leave

This points out that the time off was not planned in advance.

FAQs

What are "personal days"?

"Personal days" are days an employee can take off work for personal reasons, like appointments or family matters. They are different from sick days or vacation days.

How do I request to take "personal days"?

The process varies by company. Typically, you submit a request to your manager in advance, similar to requesting vacation time, following company policy.

Can my employer deny my request to take "personal days"?

It depends on the company policy and reason for denial. Employers often reserve the right to deny leave requests based on staffing needs. However, if it's part of your contract, they must honor it.

What's the difference between "personal days" and "sick days"?

"Personal days" are for any personal reason, while "sick days" are specifically for illness. Some companies offer only "personal days" to cover both situations.