America may be the land of opportunity, but certainly not the land of the dolce far niente or vacations.
A report from Expedia found Americans take fewer days off than any other country in the world. On average, we get 12 vacation days a year, and 53% of us don’t use them all. The study found that over the course of their career, the average American will leave 45 vacation days on the table, this despite the fact that they may complain about stressful conditions at work and the urgent need to take a break and recharge their batteries.
The top excuse was “life is too busy to plan or go on vacation.”
The Japanese don’t have it any easier: they actually gets fewer paid days off at 11. But they’re much more likely to take them all, and more likely to break them up. While most Americans take their vacation days in chunks, Japan prefers long weekends. 32% of Japanese people take at least one day off a month, compared to 5% of Americans.
Who are the lucky few who take the most vacation days? It’s the French. The average worker in France gets 29 days off a year. But since people can’t get enough of a good thing, they still don’t think it’s enough, 69% of French people think they deserve more.
Why do Americans neglect vacation time? This phenomenon is often attributed to cultural and policy differences that influence work-life balance. In the United States, there is no federal mandate for a minimum number of vacation days, leaving it largely to employers to decide.
On average, American workers receive about 10 vacation days after a year of service, which gradually increases with tenure. In contrast, countries like Italy, the UK, France, and Germany have statutory minimums that ensure workers have over 20 days of paid leave, not including public holidays.
These disparities reflect different philosophies regarding work-life balance, family dynamics, and ultimately, happiness. While some argue that more vacation time can lead to increased productivity and better mental health, others believe that a strong work ethic with fewer breaks drives economic success.
Perhaps the American philosophy on vacation time versus work time should not surprise us, after all, the U.S. is known as the “land of the mighty dollar.”
