Vacation days? What vacation days? According to a new FlexJobs survey, nearly 1 in 4 American workers didn’t take a single vacation day this year – even though most have access to paid time off. Why? It’s a mix of guilt, pressure, and overloaded schedules. 33% of the employees surveyed felt they had too much work, 30% worried about falling behind, and 29% said they’d feel guilty about leaving their team short-handed. 25% thought their boss would react negatively if they took a full week off.
But, no surprise, we need to take vacation days. Experts say taking time off from work prevents burnout and makes you a better, more productive employee. And if you still feel guilty about it, remember: Your PTO is part of your pay, not a perk.