More than half of Americans leave paid vacation
days unused each year; Nearly one in five cite “work guilt” as
reason why
Nearly forty-four million working Americans
report having seven or more paid vacation days left to use this
year, and a commonly cited reason is work guilt, according to the
2019 Priceline Work-Life Balance Report, released today. Nearly one
in five (18 percent) say they feel guilty taking a break from work,
with the same percentage reporting that they are simply too busy to
go on vacation.
The Priceline Work-Life Balance Report is an annual study that
examines how, why and whether American workers use the full
allotment of paid time off (PTO) available to them. The 2019 study
was commissioned by Priceline and executed by Savanta, an
international research firm. Savanta asked 1,000 working Americans
to report on their work vacation habits and the unspoken reasons
why many left their days unused.
Americans Make Limited Use of Limited Time Off
More than half (55 percent) of American workers report having
more than 10 paid vacation days available to them each year. This
contrasts sharply with workers in Europe, who typically enjoy a
minimum of 20 annual paid vacation days, according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. More than half (53 percent) of respondents say
they typically leave available vacation days unused at year’s end,
and a full third of American workers report leaving at least half
of their days unused.
When Americans do leave the office, many say that work follows
them. Nearly one in three (29 percent) say their company, or their
supervisor, expects them to be “available” while on break, while
nearly one in four (38 percent) report that they feel “pressure” to
check email or voicemail while away. A full 15 percent of American
workers say that they end up working during some portion of every
vacation they take.
“The respondents in this study report feeling pressure to work
while they’re on break. They shouldn’t. Instead, their company
should feel pressure to show employees that they’re valued, by
making it clear that ‘out of office’ means fully disconnected,”
said Liz Dente, Chief People Officer at Priceline. “At Priceline we
give our employees an extra bonus every year, specifically to use
on travel. Not just because we’re a travel company, but because our
employees are happier and more productive when they have time to
recharge.”
Work Guilt Starts Early
The youngest American workers were the likeliest to report
feeling guilty when using paid vacation time. Nearly half of
Generation Z workers (47 percent) reported feeling the most
pressure to check email and voicemail while on vacation, though
those pressures do diminish with age. Four in ten Millennials
report feeling the same pressure, as do a third (34 percent) of
Generation X workers. Baby Boomers, at 24 percent, feel the least
pressure.
The Priceline Work-Life Balance Report also reveals that for
Americans, “work guilt” is immediately present when employees start
a new job. More than six in ten respondents said that they would
wait a minimum of six months before feeling comfortable enough to
take a vacation of any appreciable length, while 21 percent of
respondents would wait at least an entire year.
Wedding Weariness a Top PTO Regret
Among those who expressed frustration over their use of vacation
this year, one in three (30 percent) cited a lack of spontaneity –
not taking enough last-minute getaways – as their top regret. The
same percentage complained about spending too much vacation time
engaged with work.
A full quarter (26 percent) of respondents reported frustration
at having to spend too much of their work vacation on “other
people’s events,” such as weddings and bachelor/bachelorette
parties. This is a consistent complaint; four in ten American
workers reported the same wedding resentment in the 2018 Priceline
Work-Life Balance Report.
Last-minute getaways are increasingly popular, which may explain
why so many working Americans report frustration at missing them.
In fact, last-minute breaks are now among the most common ways
Americans travel. Given the ubiquity of travel apps, and millions
of new alternative lodging options such as private homes and
apartments, Americans now book vacations closer to their date of
departure than they once did.
2019 News and Events Spur Desire for Escape
When specifically asked how the “news and events of 2019”
impacted their vacation desires, respondents cited a need for
escape and relaxation. More than one in three (34 percent) working
Americans cited “relaxation” as their top goal for time off, the
most common response.
When asked how they did use vacation time in 2019, respondents
said the most popular trip was a “staycation,” either resting at
home or exploring their local region. Beach vacations were the
second most-popular use of PTO (27 percent), followed closely by a
vacation within the United States (26 percent). The fourth most
popular use of paid vacation, and the most frustrating, was
“special occasion travel,” such as weddings (20 percent).
Vacation Cost a Concern, But There’s Good Holiday
News
One in four Americans report that they failed to take a work
vacation simply because they felt it would be too expensive.
Approximately the same percentage of respondents voiced that worry
in 2018.
There is good news on the holiday price front for Americans with
remaining vacation time, however. A Priceline analysis showed that
hotel prices during Thanksgiving and Christmas are expected to
either remain flat or decline. Hotel prices on New Year’s Eve
should follow the same pattern – either remaining stable or
declining. And Priceline will be offering "Express Deal" hotels
that are available for up to 60 percent off, which can help defray
cost concerns for those who need to use any remaining vacation days
before year end.
Last-minute hotel rates also regularly yield particularly good
value: hotels compete for business every day, and as each day
progresses, hotels grow more competitive, and prices can fall as a
result. The Priceline app spotlights “Late Night Rates” every
evening at 9pm, presenting the best hotel deals available
nearby.
Working Americans’ Favorite Fib: The 24-Hour Flu
Even if working Americans fail to use the full allotment of
approved vacation time, many do supplement that time with periodic
“sick” days. More than one in three respondents admit to having
“pretended to be sick” to steal a day away from work. And more than
a quarter (27 percent) report having “made up a random story” to
secure a free day.
The practice of faking illness is most prevalent among the
young. Generation Z workers were likeliest to admit to it, with
more than four in ten (43 percent) saying they’ve done so. As
workers age, they report a decreasing likelihood to lie to their
employers – 36 percent of Millennials reporting doing so, then 30
percent of Generation X, and only 22 percent of Baby Boomers.
The 2020 Work-Life Resolution
Last year, the Priceline Work-Life Balance Report found that
nearly six in ten (59 percent) of respondents intended to use more
paid vacation time in 2019. This year, a full 66 percent of
American workers say they plan to use ALL of their time off in
2020. The 2020 Priceline Work-Life Balance Report will reveal how
many kept that promise.
Methodology
These results are based on an online survey of 1,000 consumers,
aged 18+ who are currently full-time employed. The survey ran from
September 30 to October 4, 2019. The results are nationally
representative across gender, income and geographic markets in the
United States.
About Priceline
Priceline, part of Booking Holdings Inc. [NASDAQ: BKNG], is a
world leader in travel deals. Priceline offers exclusive discounts
on hotels, flights, alternative accommodations, rental cars,
cruises and packages. We offer more than a million lodging
properties, helping travelers find the right accommodation at the
right price. We negotiate great deals every day, and put our best
pricing on the Priceline app. Our deep discounts on hotels,
flights, rental cars and more are also exclusively distributed
through our partnership brand, Priceline Partner Network. With free
cancellation for many rates, 24-hour customer assistance and the
option for both pre-paid and pay upon arrival reservations,
Priceline helps millions of travelers be there for the moments that
matter. For us, every trip is a big deal.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191022005166/en/
Devon Nagle Head of Communications devon.nagle@priceline.com M
Booth Priceline PR priceline@mbooth.com
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