A recent report suggests that taking more time off could increase job performance.
The survey – conducted by Namely, an HR platform – analyzed data from more than 125,000 employees, aiming to confirm or refute common beliefs about the modern workplace.
The report found that employees receiving high-level performance grades took 19 vacation days on average annually, compared to employees receiving low grades during performance reviews taking 14 vacation days each year on average.
What does this mean? Does the five-day difference create a positive impact on performance? Do high-level performers take more vacation days because they feel their job is more secure than low-level employees? Is it because these employees have stronger relationships with their managers and as a result, receive higher performance grades and more job security? Would managers even advise their low-level performers to take more time off?
OR…does this five-day difference really create a positive impact?
The report also found that employees with unlimited time-off policies take 13 days off on average annually, compared to employees with traditional time-off policies who have 15 days off.
Project: Time Off – a collection of organizations working to change the attitude and perceptions employees have of vacation time – reported that 54 per cent of Americans aren’t using all of their paid time off, losing $66.4 billion in benefits. The report also found workers not taking vacation were more stressed, less likely to have received a promotion within the last year, and less likely to have received a raise or bonus in the last three years.
Need to improve your job performance? Try leaving (for a bit)!