VACATIONS – LIKE MILK, THEY DO A BODY GOOD

Shortest vacations in the industrial world? Check. Regularly work over 40 hours per week? Check. High blood pressure? Check. Think there might be a correlation here?

U.S. employees work more hours and get fewer vacations than many other countries. Such strenuous work activity has led to an increase in stress and a decline in health in the general U.S. population.

According to Expedia, U.S. employees get an average of 14 vacation days per year. This is less than half of most European employees, where employees get anywhere between 26 and 37 days per year. Yes, the U.S. is the leader in productivity. However, France maintains a hold on 2nd while only working 35 hour work weeks and getting 37 vacation days per year! Maybe we should re-think the way we do business.

Need 5 good reasons to take a vacation this year? I’ll give you 10.

1. They help you recharge, rejuvenate and avoid burnout.

2. Vacations can inspire you and provide new ideas for the workplace.

3. You are generally more organized and focused in the weeks leading up to a vacation. Prioritizing is a key aspect of this time period.

4. Vacations can reduce stress, which can reduce many health problems such as high blood pressure.

5. Vacations = more sleep = improved clarity and performance.

6. They promote bonding time with family and friends.

7. You can step back and think about the big picture. This can help re-focus the work lens.

8. Changing the pace and place is good for the brain.

9. Seeing the world can expand your horizons and allow you to consider different approaches.

10. Errors, omissions, and even fraud can be detected when an employee takes time off. This is good for internal control purposes and can improve the health of the business.

And one more for the road: When you’re lying on your death bed, you’re not going to say “Man, I wish I had spent more time at the office”.

--LeAnn Carlson is the Audit Manager for Cook & Associates, a full service public accounting firm offering services from offices in San Marcos and San Antonio, TX.