By using weekends and public holidays to book strategic leave, American employees can turn six days of holiday into 11 next year to enjoy some much-needed downtime in 2022.
At 52%, more than half of American employees are experiencing burnout in 2021, which is an increase on the 43% already experiencing it pre-pandemic. Along with the 71% of people who feel stressed during the workday and most only receiving around 10 days of paid vacation days each year, it’s clear we need to prioritize learning how to balance work and life in 2022.
From remote and flexible offices to mental health support and encouraging employees to take regular time off, there are several ways employers can create a better culture for teams. Research shows that Utah, Vermont and Montana are three of the best states for a better work-life balance, with high wellbeing scores, low commute times and lower average hours worked each week. On the other side of the spectrum, employees in Tennessee, Maryland and West Virginia are most at risk of burnout.
Fortunately, by strategically booking leave around national holidays and long weekends, employees across the country can take longer stretches of holiday using fewer days of leave.
Here are a few clever ways to increase your downtime in the year to come:
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January
There are two opportunities to book longer leave with New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. Your best bet is to book four days to get nine towards the end of the month.
February
There is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a nine-day holiday in February by booking just four days off work, with Presidents’ Day falling on a Monday.
May
If you start your holiday on Friday the 27th and go straight through to Memorial Day, you can get a decent five-day holiday by booking two days off work.
June – July
US employees will get Monday the June 20th off for Juneteenth (which falls on the 19th). If you start your holiday then and book nine days off work, you can get a 15-day holiday, including Independence Day on July 4th. Of course, not everyone can book nine days off in a row. You could book four days off to get a week off between June 20th and the 26th.
September
With Labor Day falling on a Monday in 2022, you could get an 11-day holiday by booking six days off work.
October
By booking strategic leave around Indigenous People Day in October, you can enjoy seven days of holiday for just four days of vacation.
November
There are several opportunities for a long holiday in November. Employees who take the plunge can get 17 days off in exchange for nine days of leave, by booking it around Veterans Day on the 11th and including Thanksgiving Day on the 24th. For a shorter amount of time away from work, you can reduce days booked off and settle on a short and refreshing four-day holiday for just one day of leave between the 24th and the 28th.
Dec 2022 – Jan 2023
Over Christmas and New Year, as we head into 2023, you can double your annual leave by booking eight days and getting 16.
Note: These dates include Federal holidays and may differ depending on state or territory. Before planning your next holiday, make sure you’re up to date on the latest travel restrictions and exemptions in your state.
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