Making sure your employees are taking regular breaks is key to creating a more sustainable workplace. Research shows that taking time off benefits employees in three ways: 1) Mentally. Vacations provide greater opportunities for rest and better sleep (both quantity and quality), which can help clear your mind to boost creativity. 2) Body. Relaxing on vacation can lower your stress hormone levels and improve your immune system, making you less likely to get sick. 3) Soul. Although it may sound hokey, answers to life’s big questions — like “What do I really want?” or “What is most important to me?” — are more likely to come to us when there is a little space and silence.
We all know that vacation is good for you, but it’s not so clear that employers and employees alike get it right how good it’s for you, because every year more than half of Americans take paid time off. According to US Travel Association, in 2018, it amounted to 768 million days of unused vacation time, with more than 30% of it lost completely. Add to this, the fact that above 50% of managers feeling burnt out, on vacation (and truly unplugged) has never been more important.
