It's Your Time -
Use It Well!

Use all of your paid vacation days, even if you don't have special plans
Take mental health days when you're frustrated or need a break
Choose employee vacation time carefully, at times when you'll be able to exit without causing disorder
Go away guilt-free - paid vacation is your reward for a job well done

Employee Vacation Time Survey Results at a Glance*

Over 50% of respondents have three or more weeks’ paid vacation per year
Over 90% have at least two weeks
35% have left the office for a maximum of 3-5 consecutive days
36% have had 6-10 consecutive days off
70% would not give up employee vacation time for a higher base salary
63% of respondents use all of their employee vacation time
18% use half or less of their days per year
Over 60% of respondents said that having to work while on vacation made it difficult to relax
40% found it most stressful to prepare to leave work for a vacation
54% bristled at returning to work after vacation
5% found it difficult to be away from work
*totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding

Five ways to make your employee
vacation time count

Modern workers embody the phrase "work hard, play hard" - and every grain in the paid vacation hourglass is important. A recent PayScale survey says that most employees value their employee vacation time off over a higher base salary. When asked if they would trade some of their employee vacation time for a higher salary, 70% of respondents answered "no."

Fear of Paid Vacation?
About 18% of respondents use half or less of their paid vacation days each year, some for fear that they might not seem as dedicated to their jobs in the eyes of management.

TIP: You wouldn't think of taking only half of your salary, so why not take full advantage of this hard-earned aspect of your compensation package? Your employer provides paid vacation because they want you to use it.

How do employers accommodate employee vacation time requests? With graciousness, usually. Of our respondents, 74% said they have not had to cancel or reschedule their employee vacation time this year due to work conflicts. However, that means over a quarter of those surveyed did have to do so.

TIP: While there's always a chance of work schedules being overhauled with little notice, it's important to choose employee vacation time with care. Making a comprehensive list of upcoming deadlines and project due dates before scheduling paid vacation time can help prevent the disappointment and cost that come with changing vacation plans.

There's a fine line between hoarding employee vacation time and using it too quickly. Most of our respondents had used a very reasonable 25% to 50% of their paid vacation time by mid-July, but 20% hadn't used any - a sign that it's time to start heading for the beach or the mountains. On the other hand, 14% had used nearly all of their paid vacation time.

TIP: Save paid vacation time for future relaxation - and for unexpected events. If you use too much of your employee vacation time in the first half of the year, you won't have a safety net for whatever comes up.

Over half of respondents found it stressful to return to work after a vacation. To make your comeback easier:

Leave with a clean slate. Finish up small tasks and respond to all emails and phone calls before you hit the road.
Don't think about work. Spend as little time as possible while away checking your office email or voicemail. By letting work go a little, you'll come back with a clearer mind. Over 60% of respondents reported that working while on your paid vacation put a damper on the fun.
Let co-workers know when you plan to take employee vacation time and when you'll be back. They'll be less likely to jam your inbox while you're away. Also, appointing a co-worker to answer questions during your absence will keep projects moving.
Keep your first morning back meeting-free. Don't jump right in - wait until you're 100% to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Schedule catch-up time before you leave. Block out a few hours of your first day back for prioritizing projects, reading email, and finding out what happened while you were gone.

Take the PayScale Salary Survey
Learn more about how your pay and benefits - including employee vacation time - compare to people with similar profiles, and get the customized information you need to negotiate for your ideal benefits package.

What is PayScale Premium?
PayScale Premium provides you with an in-depth salary and benefits comparison in printable PDF format.

Complete PayScale Vacation Survey Results

How much vacation time do you get each year (including personal days, sick days and holidays)?	How much of your vacation time do you typically use each year?
In the last 2 years, what is the most number of consecutive work days you have been out of the office?	How much of your vacation time have you used so far this year?
What did you do on your vacation this year?	Have you canceled or rescheduled a vacation this year due to work?
When on vacation, I typically check my email and/or voicemail:	Working on my vacation made it difficult to relax and enjoy myself:
Which is the most stressful for you?	Would you trade your paid vacation for a higher base salary?

Five ways to make your employee vacation time count

Fear of Paid Vacation?

Five ways to make your employee
vacation time count