Benefits December 16, 2008

Hard Times not Hindering Holiday Time Off Requests

December 16, 2008 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A new survey finds the majority of employees plan to forge ahead with their holiday time off requests as planned despite job and financial worries during the weak economy, with some even planning to take more time off this year than in the past.
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Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents said they plan to take the same amount of time off this year as in the past, and 16% plan to take more, according to a press release. However, 21% of survey respondents who work full time said they have trouble coordinating schedules with co-workers to take time off during the holidays – up from 11% in 2007.

Only 19% of respondents said they plan to take less time off this year. Of those, the top reasons cited were: to earn extra money (33%); they are facing new restrictions on taking time off than they did last year (21%); and they are saving their vacation time to use in 2009 (20%).

The “Working the Holidays” survey also showed an increase in the generosity of employers in granting time off during the holidays this year. Twenty percent of respondents who work full time say their office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day, compared to 18% who said so in 2007.

The survey was conducted on behalf of The Workforce Institute at Kronos Incorporated by Harris Interactive between November 24 and November 26, 2008, among 2,131 U.S. adults aged 18 and over among whom 1,228 were employed full time or part time.

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