Denver's just home to a bunch of workaholics, a new report from Project: Time Off shows. Denver ranks as the 6th worst city when it comes to using paid vacation days.
Maybe it's not that we're workaholics; maybe it's just that we have an overdeveloped sense of duty and guilt that keeps us from using our vacation days. Maybe the findings of Project: Time Off's "Under-Vacationed AMERICA: An Analysis of the States and Cities That Need to Take a Day" just show that we're hard workers, that we're loyal, that we're dependable. Right? But the report found that actually 60 percent of Denverites leave paid vacation time unused -- a total of 6.7 million untapped vacation days, collectively. Denver is the sixth-worst city on the list, only outdone by Boston, MA (No. 5), Los Angeles, CA (No. 4), Tampa, FL (No. 3), San Francisco, CA (No. 2), and Washington, D.C. (No. 1). Pittsburgh, PA, workers seem to have much less trouble putting in for vacation time, coming in last at No. 30. As a whole, 54 percent of Americans left vacation time unused in 2016, something that can have a largely negative effect on a national economy simply begging for us to spend.These workers left a collective 662 million vacation days on the table -- days that carry significant economic potential. If Americans were to use that vacation time, it would generate $128 billion in direct spending, and an overall economic impact of $236 billion for the U.S. economy," the report states.Colorado itself scored pretty decently, landing at No. 32 among the 50 states, with 52 percent of residents leaving vacation time on the table (12.2. million days). Idaho came in at No. 1 (78 percent!), with Maine bringing up the rear at No. 50 with 38 percent.
A variety of factors can prevent salaried workers from taking the time owed to them. For many, the cost of a vacation is the biggest barrier, while others fear the amount of work that will mount up in their absence. Some may feel that taking a vacation will make their co-workers or boss think they're not dedicated to their job -- perhaps pointing to a company culture that doesn't encourage taking time off or sends negative or mixed messages when employees do. Others are concerned that their absence would only remind their employers that they're replaceable, ultimately threatening the longevity of their position. In fact, many workers believe that skipping a vacation will make them appear more dedicated in the eyes of their superiors.
These states [and cities] should not be shamed for bad vacation habits. Rather, their culture needs to shift around the importance of time off. Unfortunately, many of the states with the worst vacation usage work in cultures where workers hear negative or mixed messages about time off more frequently," the author of the report recommends.For Denverites, correcting this problem should be easy. We live in a state that's considered a mega vacation destination by travelers worldwide. Why can't we at least take a long weekend to visit one of the gorgeous mountain towns that sit right in our own backyard? Why not attend an outdoor concert in Aspen or try out some thrill rides in beautiful Glenwood Springs? Even a random mental health day could be helpful, just spending the day somewhere in town. Try your brain capacity at an escape room or go to the Broncos' training camp. Your quality of life may depend on it! We at OCN are always on the lookout for fantastic ways to get out and about in our great state! Stay tuned! To read the full Project: Time Off report results and see where all cities and states ranked, click here. The report calculated data from 7,331 American workers (over the age of 18 and working more than 35 hours per week, with paid time off available) surveyed by GfK in January and February of 2017.
What about you? Have you ever left vacation time on the table? What were your reasons? Leave a comment, and let's get the conversation started!
