National Plan for Vacation Day: how to maximize your time off in 2020

Jan 28, 2020

3 MIN READ

LP staffer Alex Butler with her dad in Obidos Portugal in 2019.

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In honor of National Plan for Vacation Day we're inspiring American workers to make the most of their time off this year so that their well-earned breaks don't go to waste.

Travel organizations are across the country are encouraging American workers to utilize their time off for National Plan For Vacation Day, celebrated the last Tuesday of every January. Why do we need to be reminded to take vacation days? American workers are notorious for not taking what's owed to them when it comes to paid leave. According to research from the US Travel Association, Oxford Economics and Ipsos, more than half (55%) of American workers don't use up all their days off. In 2018, that worked out at 768 million unused vacation days. What's more, some 236 million of those days were actually forfeited completely. That works out at $65. 5 billion in lost benefits and an individual average of $571 in donated work time.

"As a CEO, not only does it not bother me to see an ‘out of office’ email – I encourage my colleagues to include a note on how they’re spending their vacation,” said US Travel President and CEO Roger Dow in a statement. “Time off is essential to a healthy work environment because it gives us a chance to recharge and reconnect with family and friends, as well as see more of our beautiful, diverse country. Workers who take the time to plan ahead bring more and better energy to the workplace.”

By planning at the start of the year, you're likely to commit to your vacation time. Need inspiration? Here's everything you need to make the most of your time off in 2020.

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