Do you feel you get enough time off from work? If you're like many of your peers, the answer is no. One-third of workers surveyed by Robert Half said they are unsatisfied with their company's time-off policy. Forty-one percent take fewer paid vacation days than they otherwise could just to avoid coming back to more work. Learn more about the feelings and habits of American workers when it comes to time off from work.

1. Vacation
Vexation
Do Employees Feel
They Get Adequate Time
Off to Recharge?

2. Workers were asked, “Which best describes how you
feel about the amount of time you get off of work?”
It’s too much: I can’t
possibly take all the vacation
time I have accrued!
2
It’s just the right amount:
I get enough time off every
year to recharge.
It’s not enough: I could
use more time to recharge.
11%
56%
33%
ALL RESPONSES:

3. Workers were asked, “Which best describes how you
feel about the amount of time you get off of work?”
It’s too much: I can’t
possibly take all the vacation
time I have accrued!
3
It’s just the right amount:
I get enough time off every
year to recharge.
It’s not enough: I could
use more time to recharge.
15%
59%
26%
MALE
RESPONSES:
It’s too much: I can’t
possibly take all the vacation
time I have accrued!
It’s just the right amount:
I get enough time off every
year to recharge.
It’s not enough: I could
use more time to recharge.
6%
54%
40%
FEMALE
RESPONSES:

4. Workers were asked, “Which best describes how you
feel about the amount of time you get off of work?”
It’s too much.
4
It’s just the right amount.
It’s not enough.
18%
51%
31%
18-34 YEAR OLDS:
35-54 YEAR OLDS:
55+ YEAR OLDS:
It’s too much.
It’s just the right amount.
It’s not enough.
6%
54%
40%
It’s too much.
It’s just the right amount.
It’s not enough.
9%
62%
29%

5. Workers were asked, “Do you plan to take more or fewer
vacation days this summer than you did last summer?”*
More days
5
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
29%
10%
60%
ALL RESPONSES:

6. Workers were asked, “Do you plan to take more or fewer
vacation days this summer than you did last summer?”
More days
6
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
37%
7%
56%
MALE
RESPONSES:
FEMALE
RESPONSES:
More days
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
21%
14%65%

7. Workers were asked, “Do you plan to take more or fewer
vacation days this summer than you did last summer?”
More days
7
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
47%
11%
42%
18-34 YEAR OLD
RESPONSES:
35-54 YEAR OLD
RESPONSES:
55+ YEAR OLD
RESPONSES:
More days
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
25%
12%
63%
More days
Fewer
days
Same amount
of days
17%
9%
74%

8. Workers were asked, “How many vacation days will you
be taking off this summer?”*
None
8
1 – 5 days
6 – 10 days
8%
34%
24%
11 – 15 days
16 – 20 days
More than 20 days
19%
6%
8%
THE AVERAGE:
10 DAYS

9. Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned that
your colleagues would have to absorb your workload?”
Yes
9
No
35%
65%
ALL RESPONSES:

10. Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned that
your colleagues would have to absorb your workload?”
Yes
10
No
31%
69%
MALE
RESPONSES:
FEMALE
RESPONSES:
Yes
No
40%
60%

11. 11
Yes
No
49%
51%
18-34 YEAR OLDS:
35-54 YEAR OLDS:
55+ YEAR OLDS:
Yes
No
31%
69%
Yes
No
28%
72%
Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned that
your colleagues would have to absorb your workload?”

12. Yes
12
No
41%
59%
ALL RESPONSES:
Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned
about the amount of work that would be waiting for
you when you returned?”

13. Yes
13
No
38%
62%
MALE
RESPONSES:
FEMALE
RESPONSES:
Yes
No
44%
56%
Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned
about the amount of work that would be waiting for
you when you returned?”

14. 14
Yes
No
55%
45%
18-34 YEAR OLDS:
35-54 YEAR OLDS:
55+ YEAR OLDS:
Yes
No
36%
64%
Yes
No
33%
67%
Workers were asked, “Have you ever not taken a vacation
or taken fewer days off because you were concerned
about the amount of work that would be waiting for
you when you returned?”

15. Workers were asked, “During your summer vacation, how
often do you typically check in with the office?”
15
I don’t check in at all
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
59%
12%
8%
Once or twice a day
Several times a day
12%
9%
ALL RESPONSES:

16. Workers were asked, “During your summer vacation, how
often do you typically check in with the office?”*
16
I don’t check in at all
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
50%
67%
Once or twice a day
Several times a day
MALE RESPONSES
FEMALE RESPONSES
11%
14%
11%
6%
14%
10%
14%
4%

17. Workers were asked, “During your summer vacation, how
often do you typically check in with the office?”*
17
I don’t check in at all
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
41%
63%
Once or twice a day
Several times a day
18-34 YEAR OLDS
35-54 YEAR OLDS
10%
15%
12%
6%
20%
9%
16%
7%
55+ YEAR OLDS
70%
12%
7%
8%
4%

18. For more information about Accountemps, including
job search services and the company’s blog, visit
accountemps.com.