Vacations are often the highlight of your year. If you get the chance to take some time off work to visit somewhere new or even relax and unwind, take it. Vacations are a great way to release stress and recover from your job, but how many days should you take for your vacation?
While there is no set number of days considered a vacation, time off is viewed as a vacation when you take one week off of work. For example, if you work five days a week, five days off is considered a vacation.
Keep reading to learn more about vacations, and how many days you need to take off for two weeks of leave. I will also discuss vacations and how many paid days off you get each year.
How Many Days Can You Get From a 2-Week Vacation?
In most jobs, you can get 10 days off work for a 2-week vacation if you usually work five days a week. However, vacation days can vary by company. For example, your contract might require you to take seven days of leave per week. Otherwise, you can take five days off per week of vacation.
How Many Paid Days Off Do You Get Each Year?
Typically, 34% of workers receive 10 days of paid leave per year after 12 months of employment. However, your paid leave days per year may vary, depending on where you work and how senior your role is, and how long you’ve worked within a particular company.
Is Paid Vacation Compulsory?
A paid vacation is not compulsory, as there is no law entitling you to paid time off each year. But the vast majority of employers will allow you to take paid leave each year. Even so, taking time off from work is essential to your overall well-being.
Every employee should consider using up their paid vacation.
The chart below shows the days of leave of employees split up by years of service. Days of leave in this context refer to vacation days, personal days, and sick days.
According to the data in the table, there is a clear correlation between years of service and paid vacation days. On average, employees with 20+ years of service will have many more paid vacation days than someone who has only been working in a job for one year.
However, 2% of employees with 20+ years of experience in a role will still get less than 5 paid vacation days per year. This shows that how many days of leave you get also depends heavily on your employer and career.
The most common paid vacation days that employees will receive are 15-19 days per year across their careers.
How Many Vacation Days Should You Take per Year?
Studies have shown that over half of the workforce in the United States does not take all of their allocated holiday days. The main reason for this is fear of falling behind on meaningful work. However, vacations are essential, as they help to ease stress, and a good break will boost your quality of life.
This is why LifeHacker recommends that you take between 7 and 11 days for your vacations per year. This leaves you with enough time to enjoy your vacation without you having to catch up on weeks of work when you return.
Different people have different needs and want when they are working. Some workers need more vacation days to prevent burnout, while at the same time, some workers can work continuously without the need for extended time off work.
Benefits of Taking Time off Work
There are a number of fantastic benefits to taking some time off work. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why you should take a vacation.
It Prevents Burnout
Burnouts are common in a variety of careers.
This is when an employee has worked themselves to a state of mental exhaustion, which will lead to mistakes at work and a decrease in productivity.
Taking a vacation can allow you to get the chance to let off some steam. Holidays allow for plenty of time to relax and do whatever it is that you love to do, which provides you with the opportunity to clear your mind about work.
Vacations prevent burnout as a result.
Vacations Can Improve Mental Health
Maintaining your mental health is just as crucial as maintaining your physical health. Intense work without any time off to relax or enjoy yourself can be damaging to your mental health, and taking a break from work can be a great way to improve your mental health.
Taking Time Off Can Help Reduce Stress
Stress is responsible for a vast number of common ailments and diseases that people suffer from and it has been linked to heart disease as well as various cancers. This is why it is crucial to manage your stress levels effectively.
If you have a stressful job, then you should take some vacation days every year. Getting a break from your daily work routine can be a fantastic escape. Being outside your everyday working life will quickly reduce your stress levels.
Reducing your stress will not only improve your mood, but you can also live a happier and healthier life.
Vacations Can Enhance Personal Relationships
Vacations reduce your stress levels and protect you against mental fatigue. As a result, you will have more energy to be attentive and interact with the people you care about most, which can enhance your relationships.
It also provides you with time to spend with your close friends and family. This helps you to establish strong relationships with those around you.
Developing solid relationships will also enhance your quality of life and happiness.
Also, vacations are essential for new parents as taking the time to bond with your child is an important but often difficult task. As a result, parents with small children will often look for positions that allow more paid time off.
Your Work Performance Will Improve
This point may seem counterintuitive, but it still holds. Employees who constantly work will eventually suffer burnout, which can reduce their productivity as a result.
Employees who get the chance to take a vacation will be less likely to suffer from burnout. This means that once the employees have returned from their vacation, they will get to work with a clear mind.
Well-rested employees will be able to work faster, harder, and more innovative compared to workers suffering from burnout.
A study found that people who travel frequently are 7% happier than those who rarely travel or don’t travel at all. While it’s not always possible to take extended vacations, you should consider using up as many vacation days you’re entitled to, as this will help free your mind from work for a while and spend more time with your loved ones.
Final Thoughts
Vacations are often the highlight of people’s year. A great vacation can wash away all of the stress and worry of ordinary life.
There is no requirement for your employer to allow for paid time off work, but the vast majority of employers will offer time off to employees with one year of experience in the role. You can get more time off work per year after spending a more extended period in a position.
Vacations can also have significant benefits to your mental and physical health. Taking time off will also enhance your relationships and your productivity.
Sources
- Bls.gov Who Receives Paid Vacation?
- LifeHacker, how frequently should you take a vacation
- National Geographic: Here’s why planning a trip can help your mental health
- News.wsu: Frequent travel could make you 7% happier
