That is so fucked up! I don't understand the PTO model either — if you use all your leave for holidays you then can't get ill? It's insane! Sick pay isn't as well regulated in the UK as holiday pay; statutory sick pay from the government is only 2 weeks, though most companies offer more. But even if I were on statutory, they couldn't say I couldn't have it because I'd been on a 2-week holiday! GAH!