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The governments of Germany, Australia and Japan require employers to offer four weeks or more of paid vacation to workers. This is according to a study by the human resources consulting firm Mercer. Finland, Brazil and France, on the other hand guarantee six weeks off.
Are you jealous yet? Or, are you secretly thinking there are a bunch of slackers out there in the world? Who needs that much time on a beach, right?
In the United States, we could blame the government for not requiring employers to offer paid time off to employees. We could point fingers at those employers who don’t offer their people any paid vacation, simply because they don’t have to. But, maybe, we should be pointing our fingers at something much bigger—our culture that believes, at its core, that the harder we work, the more we will succeed.
Here’s the caveat: There’s actually no proof that working harder (and not taking time off) leads to greater success .
In reviewing the World Economic Forum's 2010-2011 rankings of the most competitive economies, the United States came in fourth. Sweden, which mandates five weeks of paid time off, came in second. And, these studies don’t account for the personal burdens that accompany never taking time off to relieve stress, tamper burnout, spend quality time with loved ones, or simply gain a fresh perspective.
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The truth, in fact, is that vacations are necessary to wellbeing and performance. Canadian researchers Joudrey and Wallace, when studying a sample of 900 lawyers,reported that "active” leisure pursuits and taking vacations helped to buffer job stress. And, according to an ABC News article, psychologists support the necessity of vacation—to avoid burnout, decrease stress, and generate fresh thinking. Clinical Psychologist, Francine Lederer, who specializes in stress and relationship management, says, "The impact that taking a vacation has on one's mental health is profound. Most people have better life perspective and are more motivated to achieve their goals after a vacation, even if it is a 24-hour time-out."
But, still, a three-week vacation? Can you really be a passionate, engaged, productive employee if you want to take three full weeks off? Doesn’t it, at least inside our American psyche, feel a little bit like a lack of commitment?
Enter the contradictions, the big twist, and the ever-so-confusing conundrum about how we as Americans feel about vacation.
A study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies reveals that working more makes Americans happier than it does Europeans. The study’s author, Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, says, "Americans maximize their... [happiness] by working, and Europeans maximize their [happiness] through leisure."
These findings feel spot-on. Work to many of us, and especially hard, long-day work, is a symbolic source of pride (actually stereotyped and heavily promoted in Cadillac’s recent and undeniably amusing advertising campaign).
Yes, we say we like to work. According to research firm Ipsos, only 57% of Americans use all the paid vacation they’re offered from their employer. And, considering that the average worker in U.S. gets 13 days of paid vacation each year, it would be easy to assume that our productivity levels must be sky-high.
Go ahead and puff up your chest with pride. Americans like to work…a lot. We, however, just don’t like the work we do, or who we do it for.
The big twist to this whole scenario are all the studies that show just how disengaged we are at work. The widely known workplace study by Gallup reveals that nearly 70% of us are not engaged in our work. And, a joint survey conducted by
How is it possible to be so anti-vacation and anti-work the same time? Maybe it’s time to reframe how we see vacation.
If you’re smiling right now, and thinking “this seemingly contradictory information is ironic, because it’s exactly how I feel—I’m not fully satisfied at work but can’t bring myself to take extra time away from the office,” then we’ve got some advice.
According research by Forbes Insights and the O.C. Tanner Institute, one of the five things people do who are awarded for “great work” is getting out into the world to see for yourself how things work.
If you’re struggling with the guilt of taking time away from work this summer, try this.
1. Aim at Discovery: Some of you take a current work issue with you to see if you can find new insights by watching how other cultures, groups, or companies may handle the situation. An insurance agent could learn from a boat skipper: how to lead clients through new and confusing policy terrain. If you’re one of those people who’s truly searching for a new career or endeavor, a vacation is a great place to discover your passion—do you like structured tours, daydreaming on the beach for new ideas, or heading into town to mix with the locals. Pay special attention to those things that feel magnetic to you on your vacation, and see if you can find correlating aspects in your work.
2. Aim at Accomplishment: Okay, so maybe the desire to accomplish something is engrained deep into our American psyche. Learn to use it to your advantage on your vacation. Many people we know will plan vacations around sporting events like marathons or mountain bike racing. Some will plan vacation destinations like they were trophies: “I’ve skied all seven peaks of a mountain range.” Or, assume that your change of scenery will inspire a fresh idea to solve an old problem.
Maybe we, as Americans will never fully learn how to embrace a vacation like those in other countries. Still, even if you have to force yourself to unplug, recharge, and regroup, we suggest you use your vacation time—because you earned it. Think about that while your toes are in the sand.
Learn more about the NYT Bestselling book Great Work: How to Make a Difference People Love.
