Nearly One of Every Three American Workers Are Vacation Deprived
Source: Expedia
Apr 15, 2008 - 8:16:05 AM
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BELLEVUE, Wash., April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- For the eighth consecutive year Americans(1) were found to receive and use the smallest amount of vacation time among their counterparts abroad. Expedia®, the world's leading online travel agency, recently commissioned its eighth annual Vacation Deprivation™ survey. Despite reporting an average of 14 paid vacation days again this year, the same as 2007 and two more than in 2005, an estimated 47.5MM Americans(2) (31 percent of employed U.S. adults) -- almost as much as the entire population of California and Illinois, combined -- will not use all of their vacation days. Again this year, employed U.S. adults will leave an average of three vacation days on the table, in essence giving back more than 460 million(3) vacation days in 2008.
Despite these statistics, Americans do see the value in vacation, with more than one-third (39 percent) reporting they feel more productive and better about their job upon returning from vacation and 52 percent claiming to feel rested, rejuvenated and reconnected to their personal life. Work responsibilities are one of the biggest deterrents to taking vacation, with
18 percent of U.S. adults responding that they've cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work and 29 percent admitting they have trouble coping with stress from work at some point in the vacation cycle.
Additionally, nearly one quarter (24 percent) report that they check work e-mail or voicemail while vacationing. That figure is up from only 16 percent in 2005.
"The research is clear, despite leaving vacation days unused, Americans believe in the restorative power of taking time off, as well as their employers attitudes around taking the days they earn," said Paul Brown, president, Expedia.com. "Regardless of the number of vacation days Americans receive or how they want to take them, Expedia aims to provide travelers with planning tools that allow them to book their perfect trip at the right price backed by our Best Price Guarantee."
Americans Lose the Global Tally
Expedia analyzed the vacation habits of employed workers in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and for the first time, the Netherlands and Austria. Canadians receive an average of 17 annual days, two less than 2007 but still three more than Americans. Among the European countries studied in the past, all workers receive more vacation days in 2008 than 2007. Great Britain has a two day increase over 2007, with 26 days, and Germany, Spain and France all saw increases of one day, receiving 27 days, 31 days and 37 days respectively. Employed workers in the Netherlands and Austria are awarded an average of 28 days in 2008.
Gender Differences
When it comes to making vacation a priority, Expedia research saw a shift in attitudes toward taking time off among women and men. In 2007, men were more likely to feel guilty about taking time off from work (39 percent versus 30 percent of women). However, in 2008, women are more likely than men to feel guilty about taking time off from work (38 percent women versus 28 percent men), and men are more likely than women (16 percent versus 11 percent) to take a 2-week vacation. For complete survey results please visit http://www.expedia.com/vacationdeprivation.
1) Throughout this announcement, the term "Americans" refers to U.S.
adults aged 18 and over who are employed full-time and/or part-time
and/or self-employed.
2) Calculation: 0.31 * 153,374,000 employed Americans (Bureau of Labor &
Statistics) = 47,545,940 vacation deprived Americans
3) Calculation: 3 * 153,374,000 employed Americans (Bureau of Labor &
Statistics) = 460,000,000 vacation days employed adults give back
About Expedia
Expedia® is the world's leading online travel provider, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com
(http://www.expedia.com/) aims to provide personalized service, the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, and services. With the Expedia® Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com promises to offer to its customers the best rates available online for all types of travel, making it the most comprehensive customer guarantee in online travel.
Expedia.com is an operating company of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
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