Medical appointments, errands and home improvement projects top the list of tasks performed using paid time off.
OCEAN CITY, MD. – According to a recent survey conducted by Ocean City, Md., Americans are using their vacation days (paid time off) for activities that are a far cry from a day at the beach. The national survey of 1,500 U.S. adults ages 18 and older who have received paid time off from their employer, revealed respondents have used paid time off on at least one of the following activities:
- Medical appointments for themselves or their family (45 percent)
- Running errands, such as shopping, visiting the post office or bank, etc. (38 percent)
- Home repairs/home improvement (34 percent)
- Moving (29 percent)
- Waiting for a service representative, such as a plumber (28 percent)
- Gardening (16 percent)
- Visiting the department of motor vehicles (15 percent).
The survey also revealed that 43 percent of respondents have rolled over vacation days to the following year, 16 percent have lost vacation days at the end of the year because they didn’t get a chance to use them, and only 44 percent have always taken all their vacation days.
“The American idea of a vacation day is in need of a serious makeover,” said Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. “We discovered the public is using vacation days for unfortunate activities like doctor appointments or home improvement projects instead of leisure and fun. Now, more than ever, people need to put the vacation back in their vacation days, and we hope they consider visiting our beautiful beach town this spring and summer.”
To encourage people to use their paid time off for a real vacation, Ocean City will be highlighting this national trend of less leisurely vacation days in its new advertising and social media campaign. A contest will also take place in which one grand prize winner will receive a seven-night stay at the Grand Hotel in Ocean City and a visit from the Ocean City Vacation Day Crew which will offer home cleaning services, landscaping and yard cleaning and a full car wash with interior detailing to ensure no vacation day excuses.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
