Americans are not good at taking time off from work. Compared to the rest of the industrialized world, we’re downright bad at it.

One issue is that American employers aren’t great at letting employees take stress-free time off work. A Washington Post story in August summarized workers’ stories of “the lengths to which employers have gone to stay in touch: issuing satellite phones; contacting employees’ relatives on social media; and tracking down vacationing workers via bartenders, hotel staff, and… a park ranger on a burro in the Grand Canyon.”

Paid time off discrepancies

The United States is the “only advanced economy that does not guarantee its workers paid vacation. Puerto Rico is the only city or state in the US to guarantee paid annual leave. Meanwhile:

• The European Union guarantees workers at least 20 paid vacation days per year
• Australia and New Zealand require a minimum of 20 paid vacation days annually
• Canada and Japan require at least 10 paid vacation days each year

According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), “The growing disparity between the United States and the rest of the world is even more pronounced when considering legally mandated paid holidays. Most developed countries offer at least six paid holidays a year, while the United States provides none.”

In 2019, the CEPR found, “close to one in four Americans have no paid vacation (23 percent) and no paid holidays (22 percent).” Among US employees who do receive paid vacation:

• 90 percent of full-time private-sector workers receive paid vacation and holiday time
• 40 percent of part-time workers receive paid vacation
• 44 percent of part-time workers receive paid holidays
• Hourly wage workers see “striking disparities” with workers in the top 25 percent receiving paid annual vacation and paid holidays at 91 and 93 percent while only half of all low-wage workers (bottom 25 percent of all earners) receive paid annual leave and paid holidays (52 and 54 percent, respectively)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the industry makes a difference too: “In March 2021, 79 percent of private industry workers had access to paid vacation leave. Forty-three percent of workers in the leisure and hospitality industry had access to paid vacation. Ninety-five percent of private industry workers in the financial activities and manufacturing industries had access to paid vacation.”

Still, having paid time off available (or not) is only one factor that makes it difficult for people to escape their 9-5, 10-6, or even 7-7 work lives.

More reasons for time off reluctance

In the Allianz Worldwide Partners survey of American’s Vacation Confidence, 1 in 10 of the survey respondents said they weren’t “confident about a summer vacation” because they didn’t “want to take the time off from work.”

That number should probably be higher. After all, in a U.S. Travel Association report, “a record 768 million vacation days went unused.”

Yet 73% of Americans said taking an annual vacation is important (up from 64% in 2020 and 60% in 2019). That means there’s what Allianz calls a “Vacation Deficit” — people who think it’s important but aren’t confident they can go.

Another top reason for lack of confidence in taking a vacation? Spending money. People felt they didn’t have the money or worried about spending the money involved. So, unsurprisingly, when it comes to balancing making an income versus spending the average $2,122 per household in 2021 on time off, many people are reluctant.

Inflationary financial concerns may also explain the more recent data from the U.S. Travel Association. In October 2022, “just over half of American travelers believe[d] they will make leisure travel a high spending priority in the next three months—a 10-month low.”

Leaving vacation time on the table

In the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, in 2021, many employees reported they were electing not to use their vacation time due to concerns that they:

• Couldn’t successfully detach from work
• Wouldn’t be able to relax and connect with loved ones
• Feared feeling overwhelmed or too far behind upon returning to work

Then, there’s the ways in which employees work against themselves in trying to take time off. If you have ever thought, “No one can do this job like me,” you can likely relate. Maybe you even work with a client who only wants to interact with you personally. The problem, though, is that there’s no backup plan at your business if you do need to be out.

People may also fear that they will be resented or even replaced if they take time off. Especially with many industries facing staffing shortages. This is often a Catch-22. Employees who are working hard in challenging situations are working past their limits. Yet, because work is so challenging and everyone is having to pick up the slack, the people that need a break feel they can’t take one.

Addressing the time off challenge

Ultimately, there are many expectations and pressures that make it difficult to ask for time off. However, working without a break is not good for employees, and seldom good for business. Our next article will explore in more detail why people need actual time away from work. We’ll round out the series with a discussion of how to set it up so that you can actually enjoy stress-free time off work. For employers, we’ll cover how to make your business one where people actually take their vacation and come back to you refreshed.

Before we get there, though, a few frequently asked questions regarding this important topic…

How to ask for time off

How do you politely ask for time off?

• Ensure that your time off request is in line with your organization’s policies. After all, you can’t take off time that you don’t have available!
• Figure out how to ensure that your responsibilities are covered while you’re out.
• Plan the best time to ask your boss, preferably as far in advance as possible.
• Follow up to formalize the request in writing as well as through any HR or tracking tools you use.

What’s a good reason to take time off?

• Personal well-being is a great reason to take time off!
• Set aside time for learning! Working toward personal development goals can be a great recharge.
• Live your values! Whether it’s time with family, travel, or working on a hobby, you’ll feel greater fulfillment in the rest of your life if you stay balanced.

Do I need to explain why I’m taking time off?

• Even if you’re not legally required to explain, it can be helpful to share some of the reasons behind your request.
• If your plans are flexible, you may choose to let your employer know that you’re open to adjust as needed.
• Depending on your time off policies, it may be helpful to clarify planned vacation versus unplanned sick time.

Thinking about PTO as an employer? If you want to gauge how your people feel about their work-life balance, partner with Sogolytics to learn more about employee experience.