Every year, more than half of all American workers fail to use up all of their paid vacation days. They don’t take as much time off work as they could (and should!) for one reason or another.
It’s important for people to use as many of their vacation hours as they can. It’ll enable them to rest and recharge their bodies and minds while still putting them in a position to collect vacation pay.
So, how many vacation days do you get? And are you using them all as you should?
Continue reading to learn more about vacation days, paid vacation time, and everything else related to vacations.
How Many Vacation Days Do You Get?
Do you know the answer to the question, “How many vacation days do you get?”
Most people do. But there are some people who aren’t 100% sure how many vacation days their employers give them.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers will provide their employees with somewhere between 10 and 20 vacation days each year based on how long they’ve been working for their companies. But there are some employers who will provide more vacation time than that in certain instances.
Whatever the case, you should be well aware of how many vacation days you have available to you. It’ll make it possible for you to put in for your vacation time throughout the year.
Are You Using Enough of Your Vacation Days?
As we alluded to back at the beginning, there are many people who aren’t using enough of their vacation days each year. Some people put off taking a vacation because of how busy they are at work, while others simply feel guilty taking vacation time when they know the burden it’ll put on their coworkers.
If you fall into either of these categories, you should do your best to start using more of your vacation time. As long as you’re able to get access to paid vacation time, you’ll be doing a big disservice to yourself by taking not more vacations.
Why Should You Use All of Your Vacation Days Each Year?
At the very least, you should attempt to take an annual vacation each year. There are so many awesome benefits that will come along with you taking a vacation.
For starters, a vacation will allow you to take a much-needed break from all the work that you do day in and day out. You can leave your worries behind for a week (or two!) and just relax.
A vacation will also give you an opportunity to rest both your body and mind. You won’t need to worry about getting up at the crack of dawn and running off to work every morning when you’re on vacation.
And if you’re someone who is fully committed to your career, you’ll also be able to benefit from taking a vacation. It’ll give your employer a chance to see just how vital you are to their operation.
Do You Have to Go On Vacation to Use Vacation Days?
Here’s the thing about using your vacation days: You don’t have to pack up all your things and go away for a week if you don’t want to. You can also enjoy a nice “staycation” if you would like without ever leaving your house.
Your employer isn’t going to care if you’re down in Disney World for a week after Googling “learn more on DVC buying process” or sitting on your couch in your pajamas for a week. Either way, you’ll be “on vacation” in their eyes.
So even if you can’t afford to go away on an actual annual vacation this year, you should still take your vacation time.
Does Your Employer Have to Pay You for Unused Vacation Days?
There are certain employers who will pay their employees for any vacation days that they don’t use. If you’re saving up for a wedding or trying to buy a house soon, it might make sense for you to take advantage of this opportunity if it’s available to you.
But there are lots of employers who have stopped paying their employees for their unused vacation days. If your employer does this, this should give you every reason to go on vacation soon. Otherwise, you’ll essentially be working for free for a week or two during the year.
Can You Roll Your Vacation Days Over?
In addition to offering to pay employees for unused vacation time, some employers will also let employees roll their days over from one year to the next. This might be another option that you’ll want to consider if it’s available to you.
That being said, you might not be able to continue to roll days over forever. You also might put yourself in a position where you’ll lose these days if you’re ever let go by your employer or if your company closes down. So you shouldn’t let too many vacation days sit unused for an extended period of time.
Start Using Your Vacation Days From Now On
From the moment you first start working for a company, you should know the answer to the question, “How many vacation days do you get?” It’ll help you plan out your vacation time throughout the year accordingly.
You should also set your sights on some places that you might like to visit every year. It’ll get you more excited about the idea of using up your vacation time.
Find more career-related tips and tricks by reading through the rest of the articles published on our blog.