In 2013, U.S. employees took an average of 16 days of vacation, compared with an average of 20.3 days as recently as 2000.[1] A different study showed that employees only use 51% of their eligible paid time off. What’s more, despite complaints from family members, 61% of Americans work while they’re on vacation; one-in-four report being contacted by a colleague about a work-related matter while taking time off, and one-in-five have been contacted by their boss.[2]
How did we get to the point of these stats? Let’s take a quick look at five potential reasons paid vacations are skipped:
- Work pileup – The fear of the amount of work employees would face upon return from a vacation is so overwhelming, they question if time off is even worth it.
- Defensive overworking – Employees are so set on proving themselves, they assume that not using their allotted time off demonstrates their dedication to the position and company.
- Guilt – Many workers are so caught up in their performance identity, that if they take even a deserved break, it leads to feelings of guilt.
- Staff cutbacks – Due to too much work for too few employees, many workers are taking on multiple roles at a business. Sometimes this list of responsibilities does not feel like it lends itself to time away.
- Digital dependence – It’s so easy to stay connected that it’s hard to not compulsively check in with what’s going on at work, no matter where you may be – even on “vacation.”
The majority of these reasons are rooted in the economy of the past several years, and how workplaces and employees have been forced to adapt. But, the last reason is not. In this modern age of such great digital dependence, is there a way to enjoy a vacation? Can you really find your way around the road less traveled of time off, while staying disconnected?
The answer would be yes. Grabbing a great deal on a holiday abroad, or taking a weekend road trip to a new place with some friends may offer easier navigation than you may think, even while remaining disconnected. You can now get instant access to detailed maps of all countries worldwide, with no Internet connection required or roaming charges.
Thanks to My.com’s app MAPS.ME, which is now enabled for Android* tablets powered by Intel®Atom™ Processors, you can avoid getting lost with GPS navigation. The top mobile travel app in more than 150 countries, with MAPS.ME, you can now trust in getting accurate directions from your current location to any spot on a single map.
MAPS.ME takes offline mapping to a new, reliable level. You download any map for free with millions of points of interest to discover. This includes addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation for restaurants, tourist attractions, gas stations, ATM machines, subway stops, and more. Up-to-date data is added daily by map users worldwide via www.openstreetmap.org.
Thanks to the speed of MAPS.ME, you can quickly display maps even when others can’t. Innovative map data compression makes the app maps remarkably small, saving memory on your device. You can also quickly share your location with friends or family. When auto-follow mode is enabled, the map automatically orients itself to the direction you are moving.
So, when you’re on the move, having been daring enough to take some paid time off work and venturing a bit into the unknown, breathe a sigh of relief. While an app cannot solve economy problems or an understaffed workplace, MAPS.ME can ensure you are disconnected while still getting you where you need to go. And that’s also some good news to employers, because research has found that the respite effect of a vacation can increase employee performance by 80%.[3]
To start your disconnected adventure while away from work, download MAPS.ME now: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro