Most employees do not use all of their vacation time, survey says

Nearly 70% of workers in North America do not plan to use all of their annual vacation time this year, according to a recent online survey.

Right Management, a career and talent management firm, said this is the third consecutive year that the vast majority of workers have said they worked rather than take paid vacation time.

Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they won’t use all of their vacation time by the end of the year, the firm said. The number was 70% in 2011 and 2012.

“Every employee at every level should be encouraged to take time to reenergize, recharge and relax to be more satisfied and productive on the job,” said Matt Norquist, general manager of Right Management. “The importance of vacation cannot be understated in today’s workplace when companies are doing more with less and adding workloads to their teams.”

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Vacation time is a vital part of maintaining job satisfaction, and employees who take time off are more inspired and motivated to do their best work, he said.

“Ultimately, vacations contribute to engaged, loyal and satisfied employee teams and build a positive workplace culture that not only reduces turnover, but also creates a stronger brand image in the market,” Norquist said.

Right Management surveyed 763 workers throughout North America in an online poll that ran from Nov. 16 to Dec. 15.

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