Americans Aren’t Good at Taking Vacation

About 62% of workers say having a job with paid time off—for vacations or illness—is “extremely important” to them, more so than benefits like health insurance, a 401(k) plan, or paid parental leave, according to a Pew Research Center report from 2023. However, 46% don’t use all the time off made available to them, Pew found.

“If you never take vacation or have time off, you’re not honoring how humans were created and what we need to stay refreshed,” said Elizabeth Grace Saunders, a time management coach. “We’re biological human beings. We’re not machines.”

The number of vacation days workers typically get depends on various factors, such as company tenure, income, and industry. On average, private sector employers offer 11 vacation days after one year of service; 15 days after five years; 18 days after ten years; and 20 days after twenty years, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

However, 32% of employees say their unused vacation days don’t roll over to the next year, while 28% don’t get paid for unused days, according to a 2022 poll by Qualtrics. Moreover, the U.S. is the only developed nation that doesn’t require that workers get paid vacation, according to a 2019 report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

About 21% of Americans who work in the private sector don’t get paid vacation, and 20% do not get paid holidays, according to the BLS. Those who work in service jobs, earn lower wages, have part-time or non-union roles, or work at smaller companies are much less likely to get them, agency data shows.

How to Maximize Your Vacation Time

Play a Little Tetris

Grouping vacation days with other guaranteed time off helps extend your time away without sacrificing additional paid time off, experts said. Take advantage of weekends and paid holidays. For example, if July 4 falls on a Thursday, taking off just one day (Friday, July 5) would give you a four-day weekend.

“There’s often a trade-off with this approach, however,” said Sally French, a travel expert at NerdWallet. “Traveling around holidays or flying on weekend days like Friday and Sunday are generally busier and more expensive.”

Leverage Business Travel and Remote Work

Workers may be able to bookend business trips with vacation time. If your company sends you to a conference in another state for part of the workweek, you might take a vacation day to spend an extra day in your destination city. If coupled with a weekend, workers may not even need to use any paid time off. The company may also cover a portion of the costs like airfare.

Those who work remotely or only part-time in the office can leverage those arrangements to get away without taking time off. During the Covid-19 pandemic, hotels offered amenities like rooms for video calls and co-working spaces free for guests, a trend that has persisted. This flexibility allows workers to take advantage of cheaper travel days, like midweek flights.

Pace PTO in a Measured Way

Pacing vacation days throughout the year in a “measured” way helps prevent burnout, Saunders said. She recommends taking at least one day off every month—or at least every couple of months—even if it’s just a staycation.

People who don’t take a vacation until they feel “really burnt out” get to a point where they don’t enjoy work and need two or three days of vacation just to feel “normal” again. Workers who don’t get many days off (perhaps 10 total) may want to consider taking one longer trip that requires four or five PTO days and bundling their remaining days with paid holidays.

Boost That Refreshed Feeling

People may feel more refreshed by PTO if they take days off strategically during different periods of busyness at work. Taking time off during busy periods feels more refreshing than doing so when things are more relaxed.

Of course, people may not be able to get away during crunch time or may not have people to whom they can delegate work while they’re away. For such people, taking time off during less busy periods may be more beneficial to avoid work stress while on vacation. Giving yourself an extra day before returning to work—by returning on a Saturday instead of Sunday—can also provide additional peace of mind.

Set an Acceptable Minimum

Many people may avoid taking time off due to feelings of guilt. For example, 43% of Americans don’t use all their PTO because they feel badly about co-workers taking on extra work. Studies have shown that workers with “unlimited” PTO tend to take less time off than those with a set limit. Workers who struggle to take time off should set a personal acceptable minimum—for example, ensuring they take at least 15 days off annually.

Experts advise fully unplugging while on vacation. Put up an “out of office” message, turn off email notifications, and avoid work calls. If you must work, limit it to just one hour a day.

Benefits of Taking Time Off

Taking time off not only helps prevent burnout but also enhances productivity and creativity when employees return to work. Regular breaks and vacations are essential for maintaining mental health, improving work performance, and fostering a better work-life balance.

By understanding and implementing these strategies, workers can maximize their vacation time, leading to a healthier, more balanced life.