Fewer Employees Plan to Take Vacation and What That Could Mean For You

Yesterday began the first official day of summer and, once again, it’s time to fire up the grill, bask in the warmth of the sun, and plan the annual family vacation. You’re ready, but what about your employees? In a nationwide survey recently released by CareerBuilder, 81% of managers have or plan to take a vacation this year compared to only 65% of employees. While the number of vacationers has improved in the U.S. overall, Americans are still far below pre-recession levels. For the second year in a row, more than 20% of workers admitted to working while their family went on vacation without them. And that’s not all the survey found. We’re also seeing a decrease in the length of time employees spend on vacation.

While many employees feel they can’t afford to take vacation, it’s important for employers to encourage employees to take time off. “Workers who maximize vacation time are less likely to burn out and more likely to maintain productivity levels,” Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, said in response to the survey. “Heavy workloads and financial constraints can make it difficult to get away from work, but even if you’re not traveling far from home, a few days away can have a very positive impact on your health and happiness.”

Encourage Your Employees to Take Time Off
If your employees haven’t scheduled time off this year, try encouraging them to schedule some time off. Research has shown that employees who engage in leisurely activities, like vacation, have lower blood pressure, less stress hormones, and smaller waists. For employers, it means lower healthcare costs, fewer HR issues, like violence in the workplace, and less turnover.

So as you get ready to enjoy your summer vacation, don’t forget to encourage employees to take time to do the same this year.

2 Responses to Fewer Employees Plan to Take Vacation and What That Could Mean For You

  1. Geoff Vincent June 25, 2012 at 2:48 pm #

    I always took all of my vacation, including as a VP. This was due to two reasons: Firstly, I was always fortunate enough to work at companies that encouraged taking vacation. Secondly, I was committed to taking time away from work to be with my family an also because I knew I’d be a better employee by being away from work for a while.

    I feel badly for folks who can’t get away die to finances or un-encouraging workplaces. I do NOT feel badly at all for folks who don’t take vacation because of a misplaced sense of self importance …”I can’t take vacation, the company will fall apart without me”. BS.

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