The hidden cost of unused vacation

  HiddenCostsInfo3The US Travel Association, a private-public association dedicated to travel in the U.S.   has embarked on a new campaign called Project Time Off. It’s an effort that we at Distinctive Inns of New England applaud, as together we seek to shift the culture so that using personal time off is not considered frivolous. Vacations need to grow to be accepted as essential to strengthening families and improving personal health; a business investment with proven returns; and an economic necessity.The 12 Distinctive Inns of New England hope that travelers seeking New England inn getaways will join us in understanding the negative impact that vacation deficits impose on the individual, businesses and the economy.Next time you feel you can’t get away, think again. Leave your vacation behind and your performance suffers. A relaxing getaway at a distinctive New England inn is not only good for the soul but for your career too.A recent report reported by Project Time Off showed that the cost of unused vacation time is nearly half the size of the current federal deficit, larger than the Gross State Product of half of U.S. states, and 24 times the annual revenue of the NFL.

In “The Hidden Costs of Unused Leave” report released just this week, Project: Time Off discovered that there is a $224 billion liability sitting on the balance sheets of American companies, amassed over years of employees rolling over unused PTO. What’s worse, the time employees aren’t taking negatively affects their productivity, creativity, and performance at work.According to the “Hidden Costs of Unused Leave” report, “America’s 24/7, always on, hard-charging culture has created a nation of work martyrs—the type that take few vacation days, come into the office sick, and pride themselves on being seen at a desk.”

Yet more importantly, work martyrs cost their companies in performance and productivity. While employees feel that time in the office and face time with the boss are the key to a positive evaluation, it’s not always the case. Senior leaders and human resource managers believe that time away from the office is a critical tool for sustaining employee productivity. According to Project Time Off, a 2013 Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) study found that 75 percent of HR professionals report that employees who take most or all of their vacation time perform better than those who take less.

Project Time Off’s “Overwhelmed America” report found that nearly three-quarters (74%) of employees who work for organizations that encourage employees to use their time off state they are “extremely” or “very” happy with their personal relationships with family and friends too.

romance at Distinctive Inns of New EnglandAs the old saying goes, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”, the same holds true for the work martyr. A burned out employee finds him or herself just as tired at home as at work, and then everyone around that person suffers too.

There’s a simple solution. Take your allotted time off. A break is good for the health, for the family and for work too.   Reconnect with the kinder side of travel by choosing a romantic getaway to one of the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England. Take time to enjoy fabulous food, pampered hospitality and everything from outdoor adventure to pure and simple R&R by the fire. Whichever inn you choose, you’ll find 12 different experiences, all offering the kind of re-energizing that makes you a better worker. Don’t wait. Click here to check availability at your favorite Distinctive Inn, and then get ready to relax.