40 Percent of American Workers Will Leave Paid Vacation Days Unused

[RandySF]

I hope you're not reading this. That's because, this being mid-August, I hope as many people as possible are on vacation somewhere -- maybe someplace exotic, or maybe just a relaxing staycation at home. And if you are on vacation, you definitely shouldn't be staring into screens -- so please, close the computer or power down your phone immediately and take a walk outside.

Unfortunately, all too many of us could be on vacation but choose not to. That's the finding of a striking and important new study released this morning by Travel Effect, an initiative of the U.S. Travel Association. Entitled "Overwhelmed America: Why Don't We Use Our Paid Time Off?," the study found that 40 percent of American workers will leave paid vacation days unused.

Even more revealing are the reasons respondents gave for leaving paid time off on the table. The four reasons cited the most are the dread of returning from a vacation to piles of work (40 percent), the belief that no one will be able to step in and do their job for them while they're gone (35 percent), not being able to afford it (33 percent) and the fear of being seen as replaceable (22 percent).

"Americans suffer from a work martyr complex," said Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "In part, it's because 'busyness' is something we wear as a badge of honor. But it's also because we're emerging from a tough economy and many feel less secure in their jobs. Unfortunately, workers do not seem to realize that forfeiting their vacation time comes at the expense of their overall health, well-being and relationships."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/paid-vacation-days_b_5693225.html

[bettyellen]

1. every place I ever worked discouraged many from taking vacation. and too many are

afraid to take them lest the company can live without you.

[Nay]

5. Same here--we were especially discouraged from taking 2 weeks at a time.

The bosses, of course, never intended to find a temp to help out while you were gone, so you also had to go into your vacation knowing that a pile of shit was waiting for you when you returned. No one who has ever had this experience can fully appreciate exactly how much this weighs on your mind when you are trying to have fun on a 2-week vacation. It always hovers there, in the back of your head.

[tammywammy]

7. The last place I worked was like that.

Small office and the boss refused to let us cross train each other. I did accounts receivables and when I'd take off a day she'd complain and complain about how she had to do my work while I was gone.

Even worse, she had the pay week end on Tuesdays and payroll had to be done Wednesdays so we'd get paid on Fridays. The lady that did payroll wasn't allowed to take Wednesdays off. Once there was a huge ice storm and she lived an hour away and the boss made her drive into work, which took like 3 hours, instead of allowing her to do it from home.

Once I scratched my cornea in my sleep and it was so bad the doctor patched my eye. I still went into work, and considering I could barely keep the other eye open and was on pain medication and shouldn't have been driving, just because I didn't want to hear her complaining about doing the daily deposit - a whopping 30 min worth of work.

[Politicalboi]

2. I ALWAYS used my vacation days

And my sick days, sick or not. LOL! My old work place would give out awards for those who didn't miss a day of work. Oh wow, movie tickets. I myself would rather use my 6 sick days. Get the day off and get paid. Way better than the movies. Worth a lot more too.

[RandySF]

3. The article missed one thing.

I lot of older workers I've known saved up their days and take them and either cash them in or take one big vacation before their official retirement date.

[niyad]

4. in many cases, you can only accrue for a certain period of time before losing the days.

[Skittles]

15. who did your work when you took sick days off as vacation?

sorry, I detest people who aren't sick calling in sick

[tammywammy]

6. They encourage vacations where I work.

Also if you show up to work sick you're sent home (we have paid sick leave). You can bank your vacation time up to 400 hours. Everyone takes off a week or two at a time it seems, including all the VPs I know. I get three weeks of vacation a year.

[RandySF]

9. It's hard for me to take off.

In all my previous jobs, I knew there were certain times of year when I could take off without worrying about what's waiting for me, or when it's just too busy to leave. My current job, on the other hand, is so busy all year that I don't know when it's safe.

[tammywammy]

11. Yeah...

I mean there are times when we're so busy that a vacation would be a bad idea. Like a tax preparer in March. But then you know the VP would take off a week or two during the summer for vacation with her family. The other bonus is the facility shuts down from Christmas Eve through New Years Day, and you can usually use a vacation day or two at the start/end (depending on the calendar) to get two weeks off.

They stress work-life balance. Encouraging vacations, telecommuting, etc makes for a better work force. Happier employees are more productive, less burn out, less turnover.

[bettyellen]

14. glad to hear you work a more reasonable place now!

I'm trying to figure out what to do Christmas, where I can reliably take a week + - it is sooo expensive, but the whole company is officially closed, and I can get away without answering emails, etc.

[tammywammy]

16. We're shut down then too.

No plans to go anywhere this year. I'm going to save up the vacation time to do a couple weeks next summer. A friend and I are doing something in May as my graduation present, maybe Mexico or Belize or the Dominican. Then I'd like to do a week or long weekend somewhere else in the States, maybe Vermont.

I have a friend that went to Puerto Vallarta all inclusive. Found the deal on expedia I think. Groupon also has deals.

[closeupready]

8. Many on this board will scoff, but

some workers actually do enjoy their work and their jobs. Sad, perhaps, in a big picture way, but if your work gives your life meaning, then why would one seek to 'vacate', particularly if it costs $$ (airfare, hotel, meals, etc., out of the worker's pocket)?

[hobbit709]

10. Place where a friend of mine works won't let you know until Sun. if you get the week off.

And they won't let you accrue more than two weeks worth in top of that.

[Populist_Prole]

12. There's a couple like that where I work who do so voluntarily

And in a union shop where you can't be coerced into not taking your time off no less.

One is just a money-grubbing cheapskate and waits till the beginning of the next year to get paid for unused time ( and he's fixed fine financially )

The other is an ultra-conservative fundie; A real "honor they boss because he putteth food on your table and shit" type. Totally servile. That aint a "good work ethic". That's a nut.

[Agschmid]

13. I get 6 weeks and I always seem to use it all!

I shoot for two weeks each quarter in Q1-Q3 and none in Q4. Usually too busy then anyways.