Two-Thirds of Employees Can Fully Check Out on Vacation

July 5, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – A new survey from jobs and career community Glassdoor finds 45% of employees and those self employed who have taken/plan to take a vacation this summer would reduce or cancel their plans to save money if the economy continues its volatility.

For those who do manage to get away, there may be an expectation to work during vacation – roughly one in eight (13%) employees (excluding those self employed) who have taken/plan to take a vacation this summer reported they are expected to work while away. Nearly one in five (18%) noted they are not expected to work, but they must be available should an emergency arise.   

However, the majority can forget it all for a short time: two-thirds of employees (65%) who have taken/plan to take a vacation this summer said they are able to check out from their jobs completely.  

More men who have taken/plan to take a vacation this summer (17%) report that they are expected to work while on vacation than women (8%). More employees in the South (18%) and West (17%) who have taken/plan to take a vacation this summer noted they were expected to work during vacation, as compared to employees in the Midwest (8%) or Northeast (7%).  

The survey found more than half (52%) of full time/part time /self employed adults 18-34 would change their vacation plans if the economy continues its volatility, as would 44% of employees ages 35-44 and 42% ages 45-54. Older workers are less likely to do so – just over one-third (36%) of employees ages 55+ would change or cancel their trip.   

People in the West and South are also more apt to change or cancel plans given the economy – more than half (53%) of employees in both regions noted they would alter their vacation compared to 38% in the Midwest and just one-third (34%) in the Northeast.  

The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Glassdoor from June 21-23, 2011, among 2,203 adults ages 18 and older of whom 1,232 are employed full time, part time and/or are self employed, 1,103 are employed full time and/or part time and 172 are unemployed but looking.

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