Data from a Pew Research Center survey indicates that around 46% of U.S. workers who get paid time off (PTO) from their employer take less time off than they are offered.1 Most employees don’t take the time available for fear of job loss or temporarily adding to their colleagues’ workload. However, using your PTO strategically may help your career. Here’s how:
Vacation time increases your odds of promotion.
Research from Project Time Off indicates that people who max out their vacation time may have a 6.5% better chance of getting promoted than those who don’t.2 The small percentage contradicts the assumption that taking more PTO may result in job loss. It’s hard to say if the effect is causal or just a correlation, but most people return from a vacation feeling refreshed and creative on a personal level. It’s the perfect mindset to encourage increased creativity and productivity, which may help employees be promoted.
Time off improves your performance at work.
Most people intuitively know that downtime for their physical and mental health can help them do better at work. A 2023 study revealed that people who take 10 hours a month of PTO demonstrate an 8% increase in their annual performance ratings.3
From taking away from your productivity, PTO may support better performance throughout the year. Even if you don’t have a relaxing vacation on your calendar, time away from work can benefit you in other ways. A staycation at home gives you a chance to cross essential tasks off your to-do list, such as:
- Meeting with your financial advisor and reviewing your investments to ensure you’re on track for a financially secure retirement.
- Attending appointments with medical practitioners to keep you healthy.
- Getting new life insurance quotes or shopping for a new term life insurance policy to protect your family’s financial future.
- Deep cleaning your house or performing important fixes or repairs so you can enjoy your downtime on nights and weekends.
Taking care of these and other tasks can help reduce anxiety or free up mental space when you return to work.
Time off can help you learn valuable skills.
You can always use your PTO to gain skills that can help you boost your career in many ways. You might decide to use your time off to attend a writer’s retreat so you can come back with a fresh approach to copywriting while adding a valuable new skill to your resumé. You can also take time to get certified at something you already do well. The right upskilling strategy can give you a leg up at work or help you make the career pivot you’ve been hoping for.
Now you know that using your PTO can help your career rather than harm it. You may already see some of these benefits if you’re making the most of your PTO. If not, there’s no time like the present to get started.
