Reports show that nearly a quarter of U.S. workers opted to not utilize any paid time off (PTO) last year, emphasizing the need for employers to know the difference between simply offering PTO and encouraging time off.
Hand in hand with lack of PTO utilization is a rise in workplace burnout. When workers feel overwhelmed by job duties, performance often suffers. Taking even a day or two to recalibrate lets workers come back renewed and focused. PTO is a chance for employees to step away from their duties to rest, recharge or handle personal tasks. Company leaders should lead by example and demonstrate that employees can take PTO without fear of retaliation or being perceived as disconnected from their role.
Ensure employees are aware of PTO policies. If time off expires at the end of the calendar year, encourage employees to plan days off throughout the year to avoid a surge in out-of-office employees at a single chunk of time. The fourth quarter is often the busy season for many organizations, and juggling business needs with holiday time can pose a challenge. No one wants to return from PTO to a swamped inbox and endless to-do list. Coordinating time off and workload needs amongst team members ahead of time enables members to take PTO without fear of an overwhelming task list.