{"id":3812,"date":"2025-12-15T13:30:38","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T13:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=3812"},"modified":"2025-12-15T13:30:38","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T13:30:38","slug":"unlimited-vacation-policies-can-work-it-just-depends-on-where-employees-are-based","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=3812","title":{"rendered":"Unlimited vacation policies can work\u2014it just depends on where employees are based"},"content":{"rendered":"

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For years, the prevailing theory amongst workers about \u201cunlimited vacation\u201d is that it actually encourages workers to take less <\/em>time off. Without the entitlement to a set number of days, employees can feel awkward requesting days off, or worried that doing so will make them look less committed to work.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But a new study from payroll and HR platform Deel finds it\u2019s less about specific PTO policies than about culture. It all depends on where you live, says Lauren Thomas, the startup\u2019s economist.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On average, European employees with unlimited vacation policies took four more days off than their counterparts with fixed time off this year\u2014<\/em>27 vs. 23. But in North America, there was hardly a difference, as both those with unlimited and fixed vacation policies averaged about 17.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans and Canadians are definitely getting less time off, even when you only look at fixed time, than Europeans are,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cThat is a combination of policy and culture.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

In fact, Canadian workers are taking less time off than those in the U.S. Thomas said this is because 77% of U.S. workers have access to paid vacation, while just 73% of Canadians do, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Statistics Canada data.<\/p>\n

But Americans and Canadians who work for companies that span the Atlantic do take more time off than their counterparts working for companies that do not have hires in Europe, Thomas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think companies need to think really carefully about how much productivity they\u2019re really getting when they\u2019re requiring so much [working] time from their employees,\u201d she said. \u201cAt the end of the day, we know that time off is important for productivity, it\u2019s important for making a good company, it\u2019s also really important for attracting talent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Which cities are best at encouraging workers to take time off to rest and recharge? Stockholm, Berlin or Paris, where Thomas found employees took 25 or more days off this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kristin Stoller<\/strong>
Editorial Director, Fortune Live Media
kristin.stoller@fortune.com<\/p>\n

Around the Table<\/h3>\n

A round-up of the most important HR headlines.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Society for Human Resource Management, or SHRM, was hit with a $11.5 million verdict after a former employee accused the trade group of racial discrimination and retaliation. <\/span>Business Insider<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As jobs get more niche, it has become harder for workers to explain exactly what they do to family and friends. <\/span>Wall Street Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

OpenAI says its tools save workers roughly 40 to 60 minutes per day, and has helped improve either the speed or quality of their work. <\/span>Bloomberg<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Watercooler<\/h3>\n

Everything you need to know from <\/em>Fortune.<\/em><\/p>\n

Leaning out<\/b>. For the first time in a decade, fewer women than men are interested in <\/span>getting a promotion<\/span> at work. <\/span>\u2014Sasha Rogelberg<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Interview test<\/b>. Gagan Biyani, CEO of the education platform Maven, says he gives candidates <\/span>live feedback<\/span> during job interviews to see how they react. <\/span>\u2014Orianna Rosa Royle<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Manager shake-up<\/b>. As AI agents are automating busy work, <\/span>some managerial drudgery<\/span> can be avoided\u2014but human interaction is still essential. <\/span>\u2014Beatrice Nolan<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

#Unlimited #vacation #policies #workit #depends #employees #based<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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