In the U.S, recent research by Glassdoor indicates that only just over half of employees use their eligible paid vacation time. Even then, 61% of Americans work while they’re on vacation, despite complaints from family members, and 1 in 4 employees reported being contacted by a colleague about a work-related matter during their vacation – Not the most relaxing.

Unfortunately, many workers are skeptical of using up all their vacation days. Maybe they don’t want to appear uncommitted to the company or their boss, or maybe the post-vacation workload is just too significant a burden to shoulder.

If you’re a business owner, a manager, or a leader and mentor in any capacity – You should understand that the health and motivation of your employees will greatly affect business.


While having your right hand or top talent out of town for a few weeks can throw a wrench in your team’s efficiency, the benefits of your workforce utilizing their vacation days outweighs the disruption of functioning with fewer people.

Here are 3 reasons why every HR department should encourage employees to enjoy their vacation time:

It’s for their own good (health) – In a study that looked at 13,000 middle aged men at risk for heart disease, those who skipped vacations for five consecutive years were 30% more likely to experience heart attacks than those who relaxed for at least one week of each year. A vacation is an opportunity to rest and recharge the batteries – If employees were aware how much stress can impact their health – they might be more inclined to take breaks.

Improved productivity – Studies by Expedia showed over a third of workers reported being more productive at work after a vacation. Compare it to updating your IOs or wiping your computer. After turning it back on, it runs much smoother and with les glitches. The same can be said for those who take a vacation. They come back rejuvenated and ready to take on new projects or challenges.

Higher employee retention – Happy and relatively stress-free employees are more likely to stay in their jobs, keeping top talent in their positions and turnover costs low. A study done by the Society for Human Resource Management found that nearly 80 percent of employees who utilized their vacation time enjoyed higher than normal levels of job satisfaction.

Knowing the benefits of having well-rested employees - the question remains how. Even if you believe in the advantages of taking time off, it’s not always easy to convince your team to feel the same.

Start with reviewing your company policy – are vacation guidelines clearly expressed? Make sure they are. Be wary of offering ‘unlimited vacation’ as this can sometime have the opposite effect. Without exact numbers, employees won’t know how many vacation days it’s really okay to use, and may take less than they’d like out of confusion.

Stay organized and track who will be on holidays and when. This will eliminate the unexpected frenzy that can occur when an employee takes vacation and their co-workers are forced to shoulder extra work without a warning.



Lead by example – Take a vacation yourself! If senior managers never take a break, or are always checking in while away, more junior level employees will likely follow suit. Enjoy a real break from the office as it will indicate to your team that it’s acceptable to do so.

When an employee does take a vacation, don’t overload them upon return. Who can relax on a beach when they know they’ll be slammed upon return to the office? Ensure you have a process in place so your employee isn’t overly burdened when they’re back.

Regardless of the number of employees you have, your organization should have well-documented policies (especially surrounding vacation guidelines!). Need help making sure your company's policies are comprehensive and clear? Check out our FREE Policy Manual Cheat Sheet!