THE DAY OFF
DIVIDEND
A comprehensive, research-driven initiative to change mindsets, shift American culture and motivate American workers to use more of their earned time off.
After years of being asked to “do more with less”
workers are overstretched, stressed out and exhausted.
The always‑on, 24/7 American work culture is taking a
heavy toll, undermining personal relationships, health,
even innovation and productivity in the workplace.
If only we took more time off. We would feel healthier,
renewed and re‑energized. Closer to family and friends.
More stimulated and productive at work.
AMERICAN WORKERS
ARE OVERWHELMED.
Despite all the benefits of taking time off,
most people don’t actually do it:
A surprising 42 percent of American workers
had unused earned leave in 2013. In fact, new
research estimates that workers did not use
more than 400 million days of earned leave in
2013, an average of 3.2 days per worker.
The growing stockpile of unused paid leave
is creating a spike in worker burnout and
ever-larger balance sheet liabilities that
directly affects a company’s bottom line.
SO WHAT’S
STOPPING US?
42%
400M
3.2
CLEARLY, AMERICA SUFFERS FROM A DAY OFF DEFICIT. AND
WHAT IT’S DOING TO BUSINESS AND WORKERS IS DISTURBING:
… ALL WHILE SAPPING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.
Hampering
productivity
employee morale
Dragging down
worker retention
Challenging
Undermining
wellness
American workers
with unused leave
Total days of unused
leave in 2013
Days of unused
leave per worker
$21 BILLION
in lost federal, state and local tax revenuesT H E D AY O F F D I V I D E N D U . S . T R AV E L A S S O C I AT I O N
USE IT. OR LOSE IT.
America is at a critical crossroads: either reform our behavior and remove barriers to creating a Day Off Dividend or continue down the unsustainable path that has led to our massive Deficit and all of its harm.
It’s not easy, but it’s doable. It means deep collaboration among American workers, businesses and government leaders.
It means a focused campaign to reshape perceptions and change a deeply ingrained workplace culture.
It will require rigorous research showing the quantifiable rewards of taking our earned leave and an outreach strategy to build awareness among key opinion leaders, partners in business and government and the broader public.
$160 BILLION
in total lost economic output$67 BILLION
lost in direct travel spending1.2 MILLION
lost American jobs= 100,000 jobs
Estimates of the overall cost of the Day Off Deficit to the American economy are alarming:
The truth is, encouraging workers to use just one more day of earned leave each year could bring $73 billion annually to our economy.
But the impact of the Day Off Deficit travels
beyond a company’s bottom line to cash‑starved
American communities, which feel a deep
impact in loss of economic activity and jobs.
To build off the important work already completed, we have
created a blueprint—a long‑term strategy toward reaping
the benefits of the Day Off Dividend in the years ahead by
encouraging Americans to take days off. We have outlined
the barriers to and benefits of taking paid leave, created
a research roadmap and defined a communications and
outreach strategy to encourage action.
SUCCESS REQUIRES A BLUEPRINT.
THIS IS OURS.
Source: “An Analysis of Paid Time Off in the U.S.” conducted by Oxford Economics.
Heavy workloads
Higher productivity
Improved mental
and physical health
More positive attitude
towards work
Better family and social life
Great dedication to work
Increased contribution to
company performance
Financial constraints
Pressure from management
Poor communication
BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS.
BUILD UP THE BENEFITS.
Many barriers prevent workers from fully using the time off they have
earned—barriers deeply rooted in the culture of the American workplace
and in the mindsets of employees and their employers.
What prevents
employees from
taking leave?
Do the benefits
outweigh the costs?
Workers think so.
T H E D AY O F F D I V I D E N D U . S . T R AV E L A S S O C I AT I O N
UNDO PERCEPTIONS.
UNLEASH CHANGE.
TAKING OFF MEANS
TAKING ACTION.
PARTNER.
AND GO FURTHER.
For each of the primary barriers identified by Oxford’s research, we will produce new research that directly takes on the concerns raised about taking days off, touts the benefits and drives the cultural change that the Day Off Dividend can unleash.
Generating research and data is good. But it’s not good enough. We must motivate people to take action. We will connect to consumers through opinion shapers and influencers, including health experts, opinion leaders and consumer media. We intend to create an ecosystem of informed messengers with specialties in career advancement, health, productivity, relationships/family, education, media, travel and healthy aging who will carry our data and research far and wide.
We will also establish a group of advisors and
partners—medical, scientific and academic researchers, business and productivity gurus, travel experts, and family, parenting and relationship experts—to provide research guidance. We will reach out to partners from research organizations, academia, private foundations, corporations, business associations and government.
These findings show that
employee attitudes do
not match behaviors—
suggesting an opportunity
ripe for fresh research and
proactive communications.
Travel Effect is a research-driven initiative that aims to prove and communicate the economic, social, business and personal benefits that taking time off from work can deliver. Visit www.traveleffect.com. The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.0 trillion in economic output and supports 14.6 million American jobs. U.S. Travel’s mission is to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit www.ustravel.org. © 2014 U.S. Travel Association
MOVING FORWARD
FACT: the powerful benefits of taking earned time off are neither fully understood nor appreciated by American workers, businesses and government leaders. We aim to shift the culture, transforming public perceptions so that using personal time off is not considered frivolous, but essential to strengthening families and improving personal health; a business investment with proven returns, not a cost center; an economic necessity critical to creating jobs, lowering balance sheet liabilities and generating more tax revenues. Pursuing the Day Off Dividend requires significant financial contributions, dedicated talent and time and strong, lasting commitments from our partners. Changing public perceptions and motivating new outcomes will not be easy, but the way forward is clear.
1100 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20005-3934 PHONE: (202) 408-8422
