Even though cheap fares, be they cheap airplane tickets or cheap vacation packages remain readily available, particularly when you factor in inflation, there is reluctance among many U.S. workers to take the vacation they have earned. Many employees are working longer hours, doing more with less (often pay) and believing that the only way to be viewed as indispensable is by being seen at the office every day.
Workers are not taking all the vacation that they have earned. Only about two-thirds of workers use all of their vacation according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of about 12,500 workers in 24 countries.
Only 57 percent of U.S. respondents took all of their earned vacation off, placing them 20th among countries included in this survey. Only four countries, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and South Korea had a greater percent of workers not taking accrued vacation time.
U.S. workers generally earn less vacation time than those in other countries. American workers earn an average of 17 vacation days per year, but do not take three of those days off. On average they take 82 percent of the vacation time they earn.
Denmark was recently rated the happiest country in the world, according to a recent Gallup World Poll. Danes average 27 days of vacation and use 93 percent of them.
Many experts have found that working too hard, not taking vacation and/or working while on vacation is bad for employees. Depression, high blood pressure and heart attacks have all been attributed in part to not taking time off from work.
Results of a recent four year Harvard study found that employees at a local consulting company were more productive, communicated more effectively, and provided better service to their clients when they were required to take time off.
Interestingly, a recent Dutch study found that vacations may not make employees happier, but planning for vacation does increase happiness. Not surprisingly, anticipation often trumps reality.
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