Unwarranted Vacation Abstention Among Gen Z Employees: Exploring the Root Causes of Workers Skipping Time Away from Work
Chatting with Expedia's Travel Guru, Rebecca Hurley, About Gen Z's Vacation Deprivation
Had a juicy convo with Rebecca Hurley, Expedia's Travel Expert, diving deep into Expedia's Vacation Deprivation report. Here's the lowdown on the mysterious Gen Z workers and their predicament of vacation scarcity in Australia.
Rebecca spilled the beans on some mind-blowing statistics, with Gen Z topping the list as the most vacation-starved generation, clocking in at a staggering 70%, compared to the meager 32% of Baby Boomers.
So, what's causing this crazy FOMO and guilt among the younger generation? Rebecca filled us in, explaining that Gen Zers have an unsettling fear of missing out on something vital at work while on vacation, and feel guilty to burden their coworkers with covering for them. Boomers, on the other hand, are far more relaxed about taking time off, with only 19% experiencing the same FOMO. This laid-back approach leads Boomers to use all their annual leave, while Gen Zs leave an average of 2.8 days unused, potentially setting the stage for a lost ample four months of holidays over their careers.
Rebecca also enlightened us on the 'holiday halo effect,' a concept that suggests planning and booking vacations can boost well-being, and lead to better problem-solving and increased productivity. For Gen Z, the excitement of planning vacations comes in at 35%, while the joy comes for Boomers with the actual booking, a difference of 25%.
To help employers foster a culture that encourages vacations and supports employees' needs, Rebecca suggests several strategies. Leading by example, promoting work-life balance, and offering travel perks to empower employees are all key factors that can make a difference. At Expedia Group, they put a premium on their staff's mental health and growth by providing global benefits and travel perks to help employees make memories and flourish.
In a nutshell, younger workers prize work-life balance and stress the importance of vacations for rejuvenation. Older generations, on the other hand, tend to view vacations as an indulgence. This divide calls for a shift in work culture, with employers leading the charge in encouraging periodic time off for their employees to stay engaged, energized, and mentally healthy.
- To improve workplace-wellness and mental health, Rebecca Hurley, Expedia's Travel Expert, suggests that employers adopt strategies such as leading by example, promoting work-life balance, and offering travel perks, which can help employees manage stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Gen Z, known for their predicament of vacation scarcity in Australia, prioritize work-life balance and view vacations as essential for rejuvenation, contrary to older generations like Baby Boomers who tend to view vacations as an indulgence.
- The holiday halo effect indicates that planning and booking vacations can enhance well-being, leading to better problem-solving and increased productivity. For Gen Z, the excitement of planning vacations is more appealing (35%) compared to the joy of actual booking for Boomers (25%), suggesting a preference for the pre-vacation planning phase among younger generations.
