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A recent study from Eagle Hill Consulting reveals that 48% of U.S. workers don’t expect to use all of their vacation days by the end of this year. It’s not that American employees are anti-vacation, however.
In fact, it’s quite the opposite: The same study shows 85% of workers believing it would be beneficial for their employer to mandate employees take a minimum number of vacation days every year, and 37% prefer unlimited vacation policies.
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Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer of Eagle Hill Consulting, suggests that this paradox might be explained by factors at the office, “Perhaps what we are seeing is employees feel they cannot take time off either for workload or workplace culture reasons, and they want to be compelled to take time away from work."
However, the study’s data tells a different story. Far more respondents (44%) said expenses were the biggest impediment to taking vacation, compared to just 28% who blamed self-imposed pressures. A mere 12% listed organizational culture as an impediment to taking vacation days.
These findings are particularly relevant at a time when self-reported employee burnout is very high. According to another Eagle Hill study, 45% of the U.S. workforce is reporting burnout. By age demographic, Gen Z leads with 54% reporting burnout. Millennials trail, but just barely, with 52%. Across all age groups, more women report burnout (49%) than men (41%).
To make matters worse, burnout typically peaks around the holidays.
To mitigate employee burnout, Jezior suggests workplace leaders take a number of step. “One approach leaders can look at is proactively encouraging employees to take time off and setting an example by taking time away from work themselves. Of course, taking time off in the coming weeks isn't possible in some jobs like retail and public safety, but employers can encourage breaks before or after the holidays or offer flexible work schedules,” said Jezior.
“Establishing a culture that fosters taking time away to recharge can be highly beneficial to employers in terms of lowering burnout level, improving employee engagement, and fostering employee wellness.”
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