The Power of Vacations

Americans receive fewer vacation days annually than their European counterparts.

That factoid may raise an eyebrow or two, but it's not really shocking.

The shocking part? Despite receiving fewer vacation days, American workers often don't use all of their allotted paid time off.

That's right - Americans throw away some vacation time.

Despite deadlines, it's in employers' best interest for workers to use their vacation time. It's also in the best interest of employees, too.

How and why? Let's use telemarketing as a microcosm of all work (because their cycle is brief). Most phone jockeys have very short training times - they get up to speed very quickly. Soon after training, they reach their peak value to the company. They make sales and qualify leads rapidly. But after a period of time repeating the same script every call of every day of every week, they get burnt out. Then their performance plummets and they lose value to the company. In effect, they become dead wood. The dead wood is then discarded in favor of a fresh supply.

In most industries, this cycle may take years (because most jobs aren't as mind-numbingly repetitive as telemarketing). The point, though, is that sooner or later everybody gets job burn out. It may be minor (causing one to daydream on the job) or major (developing ulcers).

Logically, if you can hold off burn out, then you can add value to yourself as a worker. Vacations are the way to do this because:

Holds off boredom. Nobody likes being bored. Boredom leads to unsatisfactory performance. It also leads to mistakes. Therefore, boredom costs employers money in productivity. Bored employees are also less satisfied with their jobs - which only feeds the cycle. Vacations offer a change of venue, thereby refreshing the mind, leading to more valuable employees.

Alternative stress. Anyone who's ever taken a vacation can attest to the fact that they aren't relaxing. Plans have to be made, money is spent, things invariably go wrong and at least one item is either lost or broken. And, with modern security checks, airports offer their own unique stresses. But these stresses are different from those found at work. They force vacationers to think differently. These stresses help break the burn out cycle.

Culture. It's not necessary to stare at abstract paintings or ancient statues for hours to get culture. Simply visiting another part of the country - a different state or town - offers cultural opportunities. Doing something different allows one to absorb culture. Different towns, states and parts of the country have different mindsets and personalities. This helps to reinvigorate the mind and helps offer a fresh prospective to work. Both of which adds value to the employee.

IN A NUTSHELL: Vacations increase value by staving off boredom, applying different stresses and offering culture - all of which reinvigorate employees.