Expedia's 24th
annual Vacation
Deprivation Report reveals a striking trend: Americans are more
vacation-deprived than ever, although half of them are still planning to leave
vacation days unused this year.
Despite having the
fewest average days off of any country surveyed—with just 12 days allotted to
them each year—53 percent of Americans don’t intend to take full advantage of
their time off. What’s more, America has hit an 11-year high at 65 percent in
terms of vacation deprivation (defined as feeling you don’t have enough time
off), while rates have fallen in other global regions.
The report, which
examines global time-off trends, suggests that U.S. workers could benefit from
adopting some other countries’ outlook and practices regarding time off.
International
Comparisons
Japan:
Japanese workers, similar to their American counterparts, take about 11 days
off annually. However, Japan reports the lowest vacation deprivation levels
worldwide at 53 percent. This could be because Japanese employees tend to take
more frequent, shorter vacations, focusing on relaxation during their breaks.
France:
French workers take the most vacation days globally, averaging 29 days off—two-and-a-half
times more than the American average. In France, vacations are seen as a
fundamental right, with 93 percent of French workers considering rest
essential, compared to 83 percent of Americans.
Hong
Kong: Unique among the surveyed countries, respondents in Hong Kong
reported not leaving any vacation days unused. In fact, its workers often took
more days off than they were allocated, with 15 percent planning to continue
this trend in 2024—the highest rate globally.
Expedia is
encouraging Americans to make the most of their time off. Currently, through
July 14, One Key members who feel vacation-deprived can save at least 25
percent on stays at thousands of hotels during Expedia's Summer
Sale. These deals are valid for travel through the end of October 2024,
providing an excellent opportunity to ensure those PTO days get utilized this
year.
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