In the United States, businesses are not legally required to provide vacation days to their employees. That’s not to say that businesses aren’t offering their employees vacation time. Even though employees are accruing time off, many are not using it all. This has become a major problem that contributes to employee burnout.
Why aren’t employees taking vacations? This is the question that employers should start to answer as it pertains to their workforce. Taking time off should be emphasized as employees are more engaged when they feel rested. Here are four benefits of employees using their vacation time.
Increased productivity
From a business perspective, it is vital to create a workplace that fosters efficiency, innovation, and productivity. While there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution, there are ways to increase productivity. One way to increase productivity is to encourage your employees to use their vacation time. This provides a sense of approval to employees who may feel guilty for not working during their time off.
A study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association found that a record number of vacation days were left on the table in 2018. American workers left 768 million days on the table with 236 million days being forfeited completely. That is roughly $65.5 billion in lost benefits.
With software like Breeze 360, admin can view employee productivity. Track time and budgets for each project/task to maintain a high level of productivity. Burnout could be a cause of productivity slowing down. If this is the case, employees should be encouraged to use their time off and recharge.
Prioritizing a work-life balance
Americans had increasingly struggled with a work-life balance prior to the pandemic. Now, working from home has consequently blurred the line between where work ends and where home begins. Some people even welcome a heavier load of work to distract them from the loneliness that can be felt working from home.
Using vacation time can help alleviate loneliness and realign employee focus on forming a higher quality work-life balance. Employees should be given time to grow in areas outside of work. When employees learn new skills outside of the workplace, they are able to apply these skills to their job performance as well as their workplace interactions.
Escaping the guilt factor
After working hard all year, employees should feel deserving of a vacation. Although employees know that they have earned their vacation time, many are still plagued with guilt when they take time off. In fact, a TurnKey survey reported 70 percent of respondents occasionally checked in with their workplace while on vacation. This survey also reported that 54 percent of American employees feel guilty about using their vacation time.
Improved employee loyalty
Millennials and Gen Z have shifted the way that American workers view their jobs. What was once valued as a means to an end is now being heavily reconsidered. LinkedIn’s 2019 Workplace Learning Report found that 94 percent of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development.
The bottom line here is that employees want to feel valued. Encouraging employees to take time off shows them that their mental health is important. During their vacations, employees should be able to be fully unplugged from work. By being unplugged, employees can rest without having to worry about what they are missing at work.
