Workers Eye More Fun in the Sun this Year

May 27, 2004 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Nearly three out of 10 (28%) of workers said they will spend more days on vacation this year compared to 2003.

For the most part, employees do not plan on cutting back on their holiday plans in 2004. In addition to saying they will take more days off, more than half (55%) plan to take the same number of vacation days this summer. Only 17% of workers are planning on taking less vacation time this year, according to the 2004 Summer Vacation Plans Survey released by the American Management Association (AMA).

Most of those polled (45%) plan on taking six to 10 days off this year, followed by:

  • One to five days off (27%);
  • 11 to 15 days off (21%);
  • 16 to 20 days off (3%);
  • more than 20 days offs (2%).

However, 2% will forgo a summer vacation this year.

Feeling as though they have earned their vacation this year after a few years of hard work, w orkers are also planning on extending their plans for a few more days of R&R. Thirty-nine percent plan on being away from the office for more than a week at a time, up from 33% with extended vacation plans in 2003.

Yet, employees may have trouble leaving their troubles behind, with almost half (46%) of the respondents saying they are required to leave behind their itineraries and/or their contact phone numbers while away this year, up slightly from 44% in 2003. Additionally one in five are required to be in contact with the office while away and 13% are combining their vacation with a business trip.

More than half (58%) also said they plan to contact their office at least once a week while on vacation and 37% will do some office-related work at least once a week. However, those numbers are down from 64% and 40%, respectively, in 2003.

AMA conducted its survey among 335 executive members and corporate customers from May 3 through May 13.

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