Over 40 percent of American workers do not take all of their allotted vacation time. They may feel pressure from their leaders to be present in the office as much as possible, and they may feel that they are irreplaceable and that their input is needed for every decision. Some employers frown on taking the full amount of vacation they give to their workers.
This practice is harmful to employers and employees alike. Vacation time is a crucial aspect of working effectively. Taking time off has a host of benefits, from mental to physical and related to job performance. Dr. Dallas Dance, an educational consultant, explains the reasons why employees should always take their vacation time when it is offered.
1. Stress Reduction
This is the most obvious benefit of taking all of your vacation time. Removing yourself from the workplace and breaking up your daily habits gives you a fresh perspective on life. When people take time off from work, they have the opportunity to reflect on their lives and become mentally and emotionally stronger.
Stress can have an insidious effect on an employee’s life, affecting everything from their health to their attitude toward their work. In extreme cases, stress can cause clinical anxiety and depression. Employees who take regular vacations are less likely to encounter these problems.
2. More Family Time
When people look back at their careers, they may regret the extra time they spent at work, but they never regret spending more time with their families. Especially while children are young, family time is precious and needs to be respected. Getting away as a family, or even taking a “staycation” with no responsibilities and a relaxed attitude, can create wonderful memories that last a lifetime.
3. Improved Productivity
When people are excessively tired and stressed, their productivity levels go down. Employees who take a break return relaxed, refreshed, and ready to meet the challenges of their jobs. A study by the accounting firm Ernst & Young found that for every 10 additional hours of vacation time employees took advantage of, their performance ratings improved by 8 percent.
4. Decreased Burnout
Employees who take their vacation time are less likely to experience severe job stress and burnout. Many jobs are highly demanding and take up the lion’s share of a person’s energy. When this energy is depleted and there is no way to regain it, people often have a sense of hopelessness regarding their jobs. Many other factors can lead to burnout, including too many responsibilities, too many supervisors, not enough support, and ineffective leadership. Taking vacations offsets some of these problems and makes it more likely that employees will continue in their jobs well into the future.
5. Less Turnover
Related to burnout is employee turnover. Turnover is highly expensive for most businesses. The cost of hiring and training a new employee can be prohibitive, and employers are always looking for ways to encourage their employees to stay. Even if they can’t afford greater financial compensation, they can probably afford to give them more vacation time. This can be a great incentive for employees.
6. Heart Health
Stress can lead to heart problems. According to the New York Times, if people take vacations every two years instead of every six years, their risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease will be reduced. Chest pains, heartbeat irregularities, and high blood pressure are also related to stress. High blood pressure, when uncontrolled, can lead to dangerous strokes. It is in an employee’s best interest to take all of their vacation time in order to protect their health.
7. Sleep Quality
When people take regular vacations, they sleep better at night. It may seem that these issues are not related, but less stress in general means that people will be able to get more rest. Many people who have anxiety and depression find it difficult to sleep, and these problems are only exacerbated when people do not take the vacation time they are given.
8. Better Relationships with Coworkers
Being cooped up in the office with the same people year after year often wears on employees’ nerves. Taking vacations means getting a chance to disengage from their coworkers. While many coworkers become friends, others are antagonists. Getting away from coworkers for a week or two is a good way to enhance work relationships.
The Importance of Vacations
Dr. Dallas Dance encourages all employers to give generous vacation time to their workers. He cautions that workers should not be discouraged from taking the time that they are allotted. Taking vacation time as needed has a host of physical, mental, and work-related benefits. When employees take vacations, they return relaxed, refreshed, and prepared to help a company grow and develop.
