As we’re rolling into the spring, workers across the US are starting to think of getting some well-earned time off. But only a handful of people are able to do so since the federal law does not provide for vacation pay. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick time, or holidays. It leaves American employees without entitlement to paid time off from work, which would be unimaginable in the rest of the world.
According to Lonnie Golden, a labor economist at Penn State, American workers tend to say that making more money is a higher priority than having access to more paid time off, unlike in Europe, where workers rate having more time off work as more important than making more money. In general, he argues, “there’s true economic need for money to come first in America, and time second.”
Moreover, “We shy away from having a national paid vacation standard, while there are more and more low-wage jobs that aren’t covered by private employer policies. And, because of our bias toward work, the salaried people who do have paid vacation, but don’t feel at liberty to use it, wind up leaving it on the table.” This is something that he calls a “perfect storm.”
Meanwhile, an ever-growing body of research has continually shown that taking time off offers fundamental mental and physical benefits. Overall, it offers greater life satisfaction by improving work-life balance, decreasing time pressure, and allowing for better mental health. Experiences on vacation also have long-lasting effects and can even make us see past experiences, although unpleasant, in a different, more positive light.
