How Unused Vacation Time Can Take its Toll

Tampa is the 3rd most under-vacationed city in the United States.  According to Project Time Off, 62% of employees in Tampa alone have unused vacation days totaling a combined 5 million unused vacation days with an untapped economic benefit of an estimated $1.2 billion.

For more than a decade, workers in the United States have taken less time off from work than in previous generations.  Although the number of Americans taking vacation has increased in recent years, the biggest trends still show millennials are working longer days and taking less time off than older generations.

While millennials are attempting to be seen as hardworking individuals and work martyrs by their colleagues and peers, they may be causing more harm than good.

In 2012, a 50-year study concluded that men and women who worked more than 10 hours a day were 80% more likely to suffer from coronary heart risk.

A separate study also concluded that people who worked 11 hours or more had a higher risk of suffering from a major depressive episode.

Workers who do take vacations at least twice a year experience a number of benefits to their health, from lower stress to a lower risk of heart disease, improved productivity and better sleep.

Vacation time also delivers a greater benefit to the economy as employees are more like to spend money.  Even if they don’t go traveling, staying at home and treating yourself to something nice away from the office allows for de-stressing and keeping the money in the community.

So as we enter the final quarter of the year, speak with your administrator and find out how many days off you have left. Plan something nice and treat yourself to some time away from work, your mind, body and community will thank you.