Paid time off is something that most employees value as highly as employee benefits, if not more so. Yet routinely, workers are leaving millions of hours of unused vacation time on the table.
Several recent surveys confirm that Americans are experiencing this so-called "vacation deprivation." In a poll conducted this past December by KRC Research, for instance, 1 in 3 respondents indicated that they didn't feel comfortable taking personal time off at all. Additionally, roughly the same share – whether rightly or wrongly – confessed that they put work commitments ahead of their personal obligations.
Many peek at their work emails on break
Even when workers are able to get away, they're not able to get away from it all. Nearly 45 percent of professionals in executive positions indicated that they check in to see what's going on at work once or twice a week while on vacation, according to a survey done last year by Robert Half Management Resources.
David King, president for the Canadian chapter of Robert Half Management, indicated that while the information age has made everyday obligations easier to complete, thanks to universal access, it's also made downtime harder to come by.
"It can be difficult to unplug for extended periods, and the connectivity that mobile devices allow for makes it hard to resist checking in," King explained. "[Professionals] often underestimate how important it is to take time to unwind; returning with fresh eyes makes for a clearer outlook, greater productivity and better overall decision-making."
Europeans get nearly a month off from work per year
Despite time off being a valuable perk – in more ways than one – the infrequency with which Americans take advantage of it is particularly stark versus other parts of the world. On average, U.S.-based full-time workers are given 15 days off, but take 14, according to a survey done by travel services firm Expedia. Meanwhile, the median number of vacation days that Europeans take is 28, with as many as 30 days being offered to citizens of Spain, Germany, France and Denmark.
While "keeping one's nose to the grindstone" may be a sign of a good work ethic, it can often result in diminishing returns, as productivity tends to decline when workers are burning the candle on both ends. That's why it's important for employees to use their vacation time. The human resources experts at HRMorning.com have some suggestions for how to go about this:
Be an example
The age-old axiom of "Do as I say not as I do" falls on deaf ears when managers aren't practicing what they preach. If staff members see their superior rarely taking time off, this can be misconstrued as an indication that vacation is not necessary or superfluous. Managers should make sure that they take advantage of time off, both for their own physical and mental well-being, but also to send the message to employees that time away from the office is crucial to recharging one's batteries.
Encourage a 'take it easy' attitude where necessary
Hard work has its time and place, but so too does knowing when to dial things back. HRMorning.com encourages overseers to monitor workers both to see to it that they're on task, but also to identify who may be showing signs of stress. High anxiety can lead to burnout, furthering the need to take a break now and then.
