Nearly two in three employees all over the world are “vacation deprived,” in response to a latest report published by Expedia.
Nonetheless, the report shows the sensation is highest amongst cultures that take probably the most days off.
Some 84% of Germans and 69% of French respondents said they feel they haven’t got enough day without work, in response to Expedia’s “Vacation Deprivation Report” published on June 20. That is despite respondents from each countries taking probably the most vacation days — 27 days and 29 days, respectively — within the survey.
The survey of greater than 11,500 employees showed Americans take the least day without work per yr (11 days), followed by Japan (12 days). Nonetheless, only 53% of Japanese said they feel “vacation deprived” in comparison with 65% of Americans, it showed.
The survey — Expedia’s twenty fourth annual report on the subject — shows that while vacation deprivation rates have decreased in lots of parts of the world, the sensation is at an 11-year high in the US.
What’s happening in France and Germany?
Expedia’s report indicates that feeling “vacation deprived” has less to do with the actual day without work one takes, and more to do with cultural mores around work and free time.
“The French overwhelmingly view day without work as a basic, fundamental right, while Americans appear to treat is as a guilty pleasure,” said Christie Hudson, head of public relations for Expedia in the US. “This is the reason not even a month looks as if enough time to the typical French employee.”
Amongst Germans, nevertheless, only 42% said they feel their employers are supportive of them taking their vacation time, the bottom rate across all markets, said Hudson.
“This could contribute to guilt and being unable to unplug and feel refreshed after vacation,” she said, adding that “vacation deprivation” may end up from feeling unable to make use of the times off you might be given, she said.
Wasted vacation days
Despite most employees indicating they feel vacation deprived, respondents from nearly every location admitted to letting a few of their annual leave lapse.
Hong Kongers, nevertheless, meticulously planned their leave, not allowing a single day to go unused, on average, the report showed. Interestingly, Hong Kong was the one location where employees said they planned to take more day without work than they’re given, said Hudson.
“In 2024, 15% of Hong Kongers plan on taking 31 vacation days, exceeding the typical allotted 25.5 days,” said Hudson. “It’s an interesting finding and could possibly be linked to the undeniable fact that they appear to have a robust pro-PTO culture: 80% of Hong Kong employees agree that their employers are supportive of employees taking their vacation time, which is certainly one of the very best rates globally.”
That would mean that “those few extra days here and there are missed,” she said.
Singaporeans, too, rigorously plan their day without work, allowing only certainly one of their 20 days of annual leave to lapse, in response to the report.
But those in Japan aren’t nearly as focused on maximizing their days off, it showed. Respondents there left seven out of 19 days on the table, on average.
One big break vs. many mini-breaks
Japanese respondents reported feeling the bottom levels of “vacation deprivation,” despite taking only 12 days off per yr, in response to the report.
The report suggested this will should do with how Japanese plan and spend their days off, it said.
Nearly one in three employees in Japan take a time without work monthly, in comparison with just 5% in the US, in response to Expedia’s report.
“In Japan, people take day without work every month as an alternative of just twice a yr,” said Melanie Fish, head of Expedia Group brands public relations.
Many schedule these mini-breaks around federal and college holidays to permit for quick, yet frequent breaks from their routines, in response to the report.
The French also employ the same strategy, spreading their days all year long, it said.
Americans, however, tend to save lots of their day without work for an enormous annual trip, which is related to why they have a tendency to permit some annual leave to go unused, it said.
“Taking the pressure off an enormous annual trip generally is a time, money and PTO saver for deprived U.S. travelers,” the report states.
Amongst Americans who left a few of their leave on the table in 2023, greater than half indicated it was because “life is simply too busy to plan or go on vacation,” it said.
Moreover, Americans don’t prioritize rest and rest during their trips the best way that other nationalities do, in response to the report. Only 61% reported doing so “while it is the primary goal for 84% of Japanese travelers,” in response to Expedia’s report.
