Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they've earned?

[marmar]

Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they’ve earned?
Published: July 11, 2025 8:29am EDT


“My dedication was questioned.”

“Managers or upper management have looked down upon taking time off.”

....(snip)....

More than 88% of full-time, private sector workers in the U.S. receive paid time off. This benefit is ostensibly in place to improve employee morale and well-being.

Yet a 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that nearly half of American workers don’t take all the vacation days they’ve been allotted. And many of them feel as if they’re discouraged from using their time off. Ironically, what’s supposed to be a source of relaxation and restoration morphs into a stressor: As vacations approach, feelings of doubt and guilt creep in.

....(snip)....

The US is an outlier

The U.S. is the only advanced economy that doesn’t legally mandate a minimum number of vacation days. On top of that, only a handful of states require workers to be compensated for their unused vacation days.

Meanwhile, the law in other advanced economies entitles employees to a minimum amount of annual paid leave. The EU, for example, mandates at least 20 days per year on top of paid public holidays, such as Christmas and New Year’s Day, with a number of EU member countries requiring more than 20 days of paid vacation for full-time employees. Even in Japan, which is notorious for its workaholic culture, employees are entitled to a minimum of 10 days of paid leave every year. .................(more)

https://theconversation.com/why-do-so-many-american-workers-feel-guilty-about-taking-the-vacation-theyve-earned-254913

[yardwork]

1. I've felt this guilt all my working life.

It's always been very hard for me to take time off, often because my managers don't like it.

I'm so fortunate to have a wonderful boss now, late in life. I wish I'd worked for her for 20 years!

Americans work too hard.

[dlk]

2. It's part of the American culture that is wholly dedicated to corporate profits above all else

Balanced lives, that include taking earned vacation time, are an overhead expense for businesses and cut profits.

In American culture, a person’s value largely rests on their ability to work; more work, more value

Employees with seniority and higher salaries are at consistently at risk, every day, of being downsized or replaced with someone younger, less experienced, but with a lower salary.

In America, where corporate profits are God. Congress just took food off the plates of hungry children and yanked healthcare from millions in order to put more money in the pockets of billionaires and corporations. Anyone is expendable.

Unions bled and died so we could have a 40-hour workweek, paid sick time and vacations. In today’s anti-union culture, employee benefits are declining and we are going backward.

No wonder workers, with families to support, are anxious and don’t take vacation time.

[justaprogressive]

3. It's the stupid

fucking Puritan Ethic of course:

TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY FOR RESTING!

[hlthe2b]

4. I was made to feel that way throughout my entire career. Anything beyond a three day weekend...

I know full well I am not the only one. The past decades have been a miserable manipulation sideshow--even (and in some cases, especially for highly trained professionals. Of course, the latter had already been indoctrinated from years and years of school, training, and competition.

But, I think American workers of all types have been made to feel that anything less than 100% dedication to the job was a sign of "laziness" and subject to repercussions in terms of promotions or even job security. Gen Z, especially, began to refuse to buy into this. Now, the backlash from employers-- with the full blessing of Trump and his disdain for workers.

The ultra-wealthy overseers constantly premised "patriotism" and the claim that we all were so fortunate to live in "the world's greatest country" on this manipulation. None or damned lousy healthcare access for millions, stagnant wages, and an abject refusal to share any accumulated wealth with those who made it possible, while making sure the pleasures of life were just that "retirement mirage."

[walkingman]

5. Just another segment of the religious BS that has dominated this nation....the Puritan Work Ethic...

that says we should work to gain God's favor and is a path to salvation. It's ignorance at the most extreme and the overlords have taken advantage of it for centuries.