Do I Dare Take Vacation?

According to the recent American Management Association (AMA) 2004 Summer Vacation Plans survey, 28 percent of respondents plan to take more vacation days this summer than they did in 2003. This reflects the improving economy and an upswing in hiring. Employees are not quite so afraid of losing their job if they take time off and they aren't feeling quite as overworked. The survey also said 55 percent plan to take the same number of vacation days this summer; while 17 percent plan to take fewer.

According to AMA’s survey, 58 percent of respondents plan to be in contact with their office at least once a week while on vacation (down from 64% in 2003) although only 20 percent of respondents are required to be in contact with their office (up from 17 percent last year). And 46 percent of respondents are required to leave behind their travel itineraries and/or their contact phone numbers while away (up from 44 percent in 2003).

Last year's study by the Families and Work Institute reported a quarter of all Americans don't take all their vacation and our poll confirmed that to be true for our readers too.

What are your plans for this summer? Will you take more vacation that last year? Will you take all you earned. Take our new poll and tell us your vacation schedule for this year.

More Work/Life Balance Resources