While Paid Time Off (PTO) is part of a company’s compensation package, not all employees take full advantage of the benefit. In fact, a 2019 study by the U.S. Travel Association found that 768 million days went unused, 236 million of which were forfeited completely! Without thinking it through, you might think that’s great, my employees are working hard and giving it their all! Unfortunately, there are downsides to being overworked, such as burnout, decreased productivity and health issues. Avoid these issues by encouraging your employees to utilized their hard-earned PTO.

Five Reasons to Encourage Your Employees to Use Their Vacation Days

1. Improve Their Health

Taking a vacation can do wonders for both physical and mental health. A 2016 study conducted by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Sinai, the University of California, San Francisco and Harvard Medical School determined that a resort vacation has an immediate impact on molecular networks and a short-term impact on well-being. After a week at a resort, scientists found a significant change in participants’ molecular network patterns — most notably related to stress response and immune function. Improvement lasted up to one month.

2. Increase Productivity

Running at full speed all the time is exhausting! While it’s good for your employees to be ambitious, if they’re constantly pushing themselves to their limits, the high levels of stress may lead to diminished productivity. After all, they’re only human. Give them a break! Vacations allow them to relax and recharge, so they can come back to work ready to give 100% once again.

3. Increase Innovation

People need to be inspired to do creative work. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find inspiration when your employees are focused on their job each and every day. A vacation allows them to deviate from their normal routine, unwind and gain new experiences. The break from work and change of scenery can improve stress levels, health and mindset, enabling them to come up with more innovative ideas.

4. Minimize Burnout

People can only burn the candle at both ends for so long. Eventually, they will burnout. A vacation can lower their stress levels and help reinvigorate and preserve their passion for a job they truly enjoy.

5. Provide a Better Work-Life Balance

One of the best parts of taking a vacation is the opportunity to spend extra time with loved ones. Enjoying nights and weekends with family and friends is great, but a vacation gives employees more uninterrupted time with them. This is an essential part of striking a healthy work-life balance. This balance will improve overall morale and increase ongoing employee satisfaction.

Are You Ready to Supplement Your Workforce?

Don’t wait until your team is overworked and your projects fall behind schedule. Partner with RealStreet to fill your architecture, engineering or construction roster with top talent. At RealStreet, we are dedicated to finding high-quality talent for every company that partners with us. Contact us to see how our services can help you find ideal candidates more effectively than ever before!