TakeBackYourTime.org spearheads initiative to change the culture of paid vacation time.
SEATTLE – Take Back Your Time, a non-profit organization working to improve lives by eliminating the epidemic of overwork in America, announced the launch of its Vacation Commitment Initiative. The mission is to help change the culture around paid vacation in America by fostering corporate support in encouraging employees to take their earned time off. The program was presented to hundreds of HR professionals attending The Future of Work conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Americans are among the world’s worst vacationers,” said John de Graaf, President of Take Back Your Time. “According to U.S. Travel Association, some 40 percent of Americans leave an average of seven or more days of paid vacation on the table every year. The goal of our Vacation Commitment Initiative is to address the growing epidemic of American workers not taking their earned vacation time and spark a national call-to-action.”
The Initiative is sponsored in part by Diamond Resorts International, a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industry, dedicated to helping people lead healthier and happier lives by encouraging families to Stay Vacationed., and is gaining commitment from the corporate community.
“It is our honor to help support this program and our hope that it will truly make it easier for people to enjoy their earned time off,” said David F. Palmer, President and CEO of Diamond Resorts International. “It is the mission of Diamond Resorts to create healthier lives through the power of vacations and we are committed to helping people Stay Vacationed. and live more balanced, fulfilled lives.”
As part of the Vacation Commitment Initiative, TakeBackYourTime.org has designated March 31, 2015 as national Vacation Commitment Day. “On this day, we’re challenging employers nationwide to take the first step toward becoming vacation-supportive workplaces by reminding their employees about the importance of taking their vacations,” said de Graaf. “This one day could really go a long way in helping employees, who last year left a cumulative 400,000,000 days of vacation unused*, actually take their hard-earned vacations.”
HR professionals will have access to a free, Vacation Commitment Initiative toolkit, which can be downloaded at TakeBackYourTime.org. The toolkit provides turnkey resources for companies to implement the program within their organizations, and includes an internal communications plan, sample correspondence, tips, and discounts on vacations for employees and more. Also in the kit are details about an opportunity their employees will have to win a one-week paid vacation to Ka’anapali Beach Club in Maui, Hawaii, a Diamond Resorts International property.
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.
