As the year winds down, nearly half of U.S. workers (48%) say they don’t plan to use all their allotted vacation days, according to a recent survey by Eagle Hill Consulting. While 85% of workers believe employers should require employees to take a minimum amount of vacation, 37% say they’d prefer an unlimited time-off policy.
The survey sheds light on a troubling trend: burnout continues to impact the workforce, with 45% of U.S. employees reporting they feel burnt out. Younger generations are feeling the strain the most, with Gen Z (54%) and Millennials (52%) reporting the highest levels of burnout. Women are also more affected, with 49% experiencing burnout compared to 41% of men.
Mixed Messages About Vacation
“There’s a disconnect here,” says Melissa Jezior, CEO of Eagle Hill Consulting. “While over a third of workers want unlimited vacation, half aren’t even using the time they already have. This might point to barriers like workload or workplace culture making employees feel they can’t step away. Mandating vacation could be a way to help workers recharge.”
Jezior suggests that leadership has a role in fostering a healthier culture around time off. “The holiday season, though joyful, can also be stressful—especially for a workforce already battling burnout. Employers can support their teams by encouraging time off, leading by example, and creating flexible schedules for those in high-demand roles like retail or public safety.”
Vacation Habits and Barriers
The study also revealed insights into vacation patterns and obstacles:
- No Breaks Taken: Over a third (36%) of workers haven’t taken a vacation in the past year.
- Preferred Policies: While 37% favor unlimited vacation, 31% prefer a set number of paid days off, 27% like a mix of sick and vacation days, and 4% want no paid time off.
- Current PTO Structure: 43% have a set number of vacation days, 32% have combined sick and vacation days, 10% have unlimited time off, and 14% lack any paid time off.
- Barriers to Vacation: The top reasons workers skip vacations include cost (44%), self-imposed pressure (28%), heavy workloads (24%), lack of paid time off (24%), insufficient coverage at work (21%), pressure from managers (14%), and organizational culture (12%).
- Disconnecting While Away: While 58% of workers fully unplug during vacation, 24% check emails or messages and 5% continue working.
Encouraging a Healthy Work-Life Balance
For employers, creating a culture that encourages taking time off can improve wellness, reduce burnout, and boost engagement. Strategies might include promoting breaks before or after busy seasons, offering flexible scheduling, and normalizing time off by taking vacations.
The findings come from the 2024 Eagle Hill Consulting Worker Vacation Survey, which Ipsos conducted in October and featured 1,387 U.S. employees.
