Millions of American Workers Refuse Paid Vacations Amid Growing Job Insecurity
New study reveals that fear of layoffs, rising living costs, and workplace culture are pushing employees to skip their annual paid leave — fueling burnout and mental health crises.
A new survey has revealed that millions of employees in the United States are refraining from using their paid annual vacations — a phenomenon reflecting mounting pressure within workplaces and growing anxiety about the future of the job market.
According to a study by the employment platform FlexJobs, 23% of U.S. workers did not take a single day off last year, despite having paid leave entitlements.
Labor experts say this trend is not merely a personal choice but the outcome of economic, organizational, and psychological factors driving employees to avoid any interruption from work.
Experts Link Job Insecurity to Rising Burnout and Reluctance to Take Time Off
Jennifer Schilke, co-founder and CEO of Summit Group Solutions, explained that widespread layoffs and hiring slowdowns have intensified feelings of insecurity and eroded workers’ confidence in job stability. She added that these fears intersect with alarming signs of mental health strain and workplace burnout.
The FlexJobs survey — which polled 3,063 employees between August 18 and 31 — found that while 82% of workers are entitled to paid leave, many use little or none of it. In addition to the 23% who took no vacation at all, 40% said they took between one and ten days off during the year.
When asked about their reasons, 43% cited heavy workload pressures, 34% said they lacked sufficient paid leave days, 30% feared falling behind their peers, and 29% stayed at work to demonstrate dedication. Another 19% complained of weak employer support for taking time off.
Rita Fontinha, Professor of Strategic Human Resource Management at Henley Business School in the U.K., believes American work culture itself contributes to this pattern. In the U.S., taking time off is often seen as a lack of ambition or work ethic. She also noted that employees fear returning to piles of unfinished tasks or being viewed as less committed, which makes them hesitant to take leave.
According to Ron Goetzel, Director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at Johns Hopkins University, growing reports of layoffs, economic instability, new tariffs, and the threat of automation and AI replacing human jobs all heighten psychological stress on workers.
Experts Warn: “Job Hugging” Culture Deepens Burnout and Harms Worker Well-Being
In a separate Wondr Health study conducted in June involving 2,000 employees, 62% said they do not use about one-third of their annual leave, even though most recognize its importance for stress relief and mental well-being. Experts warn that avoiding vacations contributes to burnout, reduces job satisfaction, and increases the risk of long-term mental and physical health issues.
Sociology professor Yasemin Besen-Cassino of Montclair State University commented that the current work culture equates “not taking vacations” with “dedication to work.” She warned that this path causes long-term harm for both individuals and organizations. While hard work and diligence are important, experts argue that sacrificing health and personal time out of fear of job loss ultimately leads to lower productivity and performance quality.
Research indicates that persistent job market anxiety has led to a growing trend known as “job hugging” — where employees cling to their jobs out of fear of losing them, even at the expense of their health or personal life. This trend reflects a deep transformation in the relationship between individuals and work in American society.
