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Why Aren’t American Workers Using Their Paid Time Off?

Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman

A Pew Research Center survey published earlier this year revealed a surprising contradiction among the participants: the overwhelming majority of American workers greatly value their paid time off, yet many of them are leaving vacation days unused, for a variety of reasons.

The "How Americans View Their Jobs" survey asked 5,188 Americans who work either part-time or full-time (and are not self-employed) about their experiences and views of the workplace. One of the most interesting findings was that although 62% of workers said it was "extremely important" and 27% said it was "very important" to have a job with paid time off (including vacation days and time off for illness and doctor's visits), nearly half (46%) take less paid time off than they are offered.

A new Pew Research Center survey found that less than half of US workers are taking all of their paid time off. Many say they don’t need it, while others fear falling behind or burdening co-workers.
A new Pew Research Center survey found that less than half of US workers are taking all of their paid time off. Many say they don’t need it, while others fear falling behind or burdening co-workers.

So what's stopping them? According to the Pew survey, which allowed respondents to give multiple reasons, 52% of those workers don't feel they need more time off, while 49% worry about falling behind due to an absence. Another significant factor is not wanting to burden co-workers (43%). Interestingly, worrying about lessened prospects for career advancement (19%) and fears of losing one's job (16%) are less common reasons. Additionally, 12% said that they had been discouraged from using their paid time off by a manager or supervisor.

How Americans view their jobs:

  • Among other findings, 39% of part-time and full-time workers (not self-employed) said that their job was either extremely or very important to their overall identity.

  • According to the survey, just over half of workers are extremely or very satisfied with their job and day-to-day tasks. Significant majorities are extremely or very satisfied with their relationships with their co-workers (67%) and their supervisor (62%), though only around a third of workers are extremely or very satisfied with their pay and opportunities for promotion.

  • Half of workers find their job enjoyable all or most of their time, while 47% find it fulfilling all or most of the time. Twenty-nine percent find their job stressful all or most of the time, with 52% finding it stressful some of the time.

Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman is a teacher and blogger who frequently writes for WiseGEEK about topics related to personal finance, parenting, health, nutrition, and education. Learn more...
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman
Margaret Lipman is a teacher and blogger who frequently writes for WiseGEEK about topics related to personal finance, parenting, health, nutrition, and education. Learn more...
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    • A new Pew Research Center survey found that less than half of US workers are taking all of their paid time off. Many say they don’t need it, while others fear falling behind or burdening co-workers.
      By: contrastwerkstatt
      A new Pew Research Center survey found that less than half of US workers are taking all of their paid time off. Many say they don’t need it, while others fear falling behind or burdening co-workers.