Work, work, work

Americans apparently don't really care for taking vacations, at least a whopping third do not:

When it comes to taking vacation days, a third of U.S. workers apparently aren't members of the clean-plate club.
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The average number of days workers forfeit: four, up from three in last year's survey.

I only get 10 days a year. I can't even imagine letting four go by unused, but then again, one of my colleagues NEVER takes his vacation time. Never.

Now, you might think, most Americans maybe have so many days they end up losing a few here and there. I don't think so:

And it's not as if the United States leads the world in vacation days granted. The average is 14 days in 2006, according to the survey, which is far below that of many other industrialized countries such as Great Britain (24 days) or France (39 days).
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A study released last year by the Family and Work Institute (FWI) also found that about a third of workers (36 percent) did not plan to use all their vacation days. And 37 percent said they never taken more than a week off at a time.

There are a host of reasons working adults offer for why they may give up vacation time or take their time only in short spurts:

• They prefer the money if their employers agree to pay them for the days they forfeit.
• They experience increased stress at work both in the run-up to vacation and immediately upon their return.
• They're just too busy to leave.
• They're afraid their boss will hold it against them.

Too bad. The article specifically talks about the health benefits that come from taking a break from work.

Speaking of which, I think I need a vacation...