Vacation Deprived Americans Recognize Benefits
There is a new souvenir that keeps delivering benefits after you return home from vacation…no, it’s not something that might arrive in nine months. Taking a vacation might produce health, family and work benefits.
Roger Dow, Travel Industry Association’s president and CEO says, “The evidence is overwhelming that when you take a trip, the benefits are everywhere. Despite the fact that Americans get less vacation time than in any country in the industrialized world, because of the personal benefits gained, we can’t afford not to travel.”
A 2008 Expedia survey reveals that nearly one-third of employed Americans are vacation deprived. This translates to an average of three vacation days earned being left on the table, or in essence giving back more than 460 million vacation days in 2008, as stated in the survey.
Expedia’s survey findings conclude that Americans do value vacations despite not taking advantage of well-earned time off. To illustrate, 39 percent of the survey respondents claim to feel more productive and better about their job upon returning from vacation and 52 percent state they feel rested, rejuvenated and reconnected to their personal life.
“The research is clear, despite leaving vacation days unused, Americans believe in the restorative power of taking time off,” said Paul Brown, president, Expedia.com.
TIA issued a report in April 2008 titled “The Benefits are Everywhere” which cited a variety of studies’ findings including:
- An annual vacation can cut a person’s risk of heart attack by 50 percent.
- More than half of employed Americans say they come back feeling reconnected with their family after vacation (53%).
- Three out of four executives believe that vacations are necessary for them to prevent burnout (78%) or that vacations improve their personal job performance (75%).
- Travelers experience a 25% increase in performance on vigilance tests after returning from vacation - travelers 45 or older show a 50% increase in performance.
- Two out of three executives believe that vacations improve their creativity (68%).
- Women who take more vacations are more satisfied with their marriages.
- Even the anticipation of vacation travel generates an increase in positive feelings about one’s life as a whole, family, economic situation, and health.
“According to one study, overwork costs employers about $150 billion a year stress-related absences,” Dow said. “There are 78 countries where the right to annual vacations of a minimum duration is prescribed by law. Some even have penalties for deferring the vacation.”
What prevents you from taking a vacation? Or do you always use all of your earned days annually?
“Women who take more vacations are more satisfied with their marriages.” I would add: women who take vacations by themselves have better marriages!
Seriously, what a great article! It’s well-researched and offers a nice takeaway - take a vacation!
As a fellow journalist, I really appreciate good statistics. Fabulous advice. Thanks!
Interesting information, one that many employers should heed. I hope those executives who think vacations are so beneficial are practicing what they preach with their employees.
I know that it’s hard for me to take days off because I’m afraid to use my days as vacation because I may need them when my babies are sick. It’s also hard to take off because of all of the uncompleted work that is waiting on me when I come back.
Believe me, I would rather be on the beach somewhere!!!!
Last year I was pregnant with our second child and we purposely did not go on a vacation because I wanted to save all my vacation days for maternity leave. Although I loved having the extra days for my leave, it made for a very long summer without a break. Needless to say, we won’t be doing that again (not this year, at least) and we’re heading to Hilton Head in August with our two girls for a week. I love the time I get to spend with my family on vacation because it’s just us - no household chores, no bills to pay, no extended family visits - just the four of us spending quality time together and having fun. It’s something we look forward to every year and wouldn’t trade it in for anything. We all come back that much closer; it truly changes our attitudes and outlook on life. I can’t wait!