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77% Of U.S. Respondents Have Worked While On Vacation In The Past Year, According To TripAdvisor Survey
Three Quarters Don't Think U.S. Vacation Time is Fair Compared to the Rest of the World
PR Newswire
NEWTON

NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor(®), the world's largest travel site*, today revealed the results of its working-on-vacation survey of more than 16,100 employed(1) respondents across 10 countries, including more than 2,100 in the U.S. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. respondents report having worked on vacation during the past year, compared to an average of 40 percent in the nine other countries included in the poll--Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain and the U.K.

http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO

Why People Work on Vacation

    --  Fifty-one percent of U.S. respondents say they do not mind doing a
        little work on vacation, while 44 percent would prefer to be totally
        disconnected, and five percent enjoy being connected to work while on
        vacation.
    --  Across all countries surveyed, the top reason respondents cited for
        working on vacation is that there may be urgent situations that need
        attention - 65 percent of U.S. respondents report feeling this way.
    --  U.S. respondents are the most likely to report feeling guilty if they
        don't work on vacation (18%), and also the most likely to say that their
        managers expect it (18%).

Top Work Activities Respondents Typically Do While on Vacation


                            U.S. Respondents     Global Average
                            ----------------     --------------

    Check emails                             91%                65%
    ------------                             ---                 ---

    Respond to emails                        85%                56%
    -----------------                        ---                 ---

    Check voicemail                          45%                21%
    ---------------                          ---                 ---

    Create / edit documents                  42%                26%
    -----------------------                  ---                 ---

    Respond to voicemail                     40%                20%
    --------------------                     ---                 ---

Email Trends and Online Connectivity

    --  Ninety-one percent of U.S. respondents typically check work email while
        on vacation.
    --  Of those who check work email on vacation, 37 percent say it is an
        everyday habit and do not consider it to be "work" while on vacation.
    --  Forty percent check work email several times per day, while five percent
        admit to taking a peek every hour or more.
    --  Thirty-nine percent of respondents say the rise in Internet connectivity
        and mobile devices has created an expectation from employers that they
        should always be available to work. A further 32 percent say it has
        meant that they feel a need to check in while out of the office.

Vacation Time Allotted Versus What's Considered Fair


    Country     Paid Vacation     Paid Vacation Days     Difference
                Days Allotted     Considered Fair
    ---         -------------     ---------------

    Americans                  18                     22              4
    ---------                 ---                    ---            ---

    Japanese                   19                     28              9
    --------                  ---                    ---            ---

    Australians                22                     24              2
    -----------               ---                    ---            ---

    Brazilians                 24                     33              9
    ----------                ---                    ---            ---

    British                    24                     28              4
    -------                   ---                    ---            ---

    Spanish                    24                     32              8
    -------                   ---                    ---            ---

    Germans                    26                     30              4
    -------                   ---                    ---            ---

    Italians                   27                     31              4
    --------                  ---                    ---            ---

    Russians                   29                     33              4
    --------                  ---                    ---            ---

    French                     31                     31              0
    ------                    ---                    ---            ---

    Average                    24                     29              5
    -------                   ---                    ---            ---

How U.S. Vacation Time Stacks Up Against the Rest of the World

    --  U.S. respondents receive less paid vacation time than any of the
        countries surveyed - 18 days in the U.S., compared to the average of 24.
    --  The majority of U.S. respondents (76%) do not feel the amount of paid
        vacation time given in the U.S. is fair compared to what the rest of the
        world receives.
    --  U.S. respondents on average would like an additional four days of
        vacation, considering 22 days of paid vacation to be fair and
        reasonable. However, this is the lowest expectation of the countries
        surveyed - Brazilians and Russians want the most at 33 days per year.

    Satisfied with Amount of          Feel Their Vacation Time is
                                      Fair
    Vacation Time Allotted           Compared to Rest of World

    1.      Germans - 83%                   1.      Germans - 89%

    2.      French - 79%                2.      Australians - 87%

    3.      Italians - 76%                   3.      French - 84%

    4.      British - 72%                  4.      Russians - 81%

    5.      Australians - 72%              5.      Japanese - 80%

    6.      Spanish - 71%                6.      Brazilians - 76%

    7.      Japanese - 69%                 7.      Italians - 74%

    8.      Americans - 60%                 8.      Spanish - 69%

    9.      Russians - 58%                  9.      British - 67%

    10.  Brazilians - 57%                    10.  Americans - 24%

Putting a Dollar Value on Vacation Days
Twenty-one percent of U.S. respondents would take a pay reduction in order to gain more time off. For each extra day, the average amount they'd be willing to have their pay decreased is $350.

Give Me a Break

    --  Sixty-six percent of U.S. respondents say their vacations leave them
        feeling refreshed and recharged, and 39 percent say they are better able
        to handle work stresses after taking a vacation. These benefits
        typically last 1-2 weeks (27%).
    --  To ease the transition back to work, 53 percent return from trips a day
        or two early to rest and unpack.

"The TripAdvisor survey shows that Americans receive less vacation time than other countries, and when they do take time off it is often more like a 'workation' than a vacation," said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "In today's highly connected world, most Americans feel the need to stay plugged in even while out of the office."

(1)The survey includes respondents who report their current employment status as full-time, part-time or self-employed.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor(®) is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching nearly 280 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 170 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 44 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 24 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.lafourchette.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, www.viator.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and www.kuxun.cn.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, Q1 2014

**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q2 2014; does not include traffic to daodao.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO

SOURCE TripAdvisor

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/

SOURCE: TripAdvisor

77% Of U.S. Respondents Have Worked While On Vacation In The Past Year, According To TripAdvisor Survey

Three Quarters Don't Think U.S. Vacation Time is Fair Compared to the Rest of the World

PR Newswire

NEWTON, Mass., Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor®, the world's largest travel site*, today revealed the results of its working-on-vacation survey of more than 16,100 employed1 respondents across 10 countries, including more than 2,100 in the U.S. Seventy-seven percent of U.S. respondents report having worked on vacation during the past year, compared to an average of 40 percent in the nine other countries included in the poll—Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain and the U.K.

Why People Work on Vacation

  • Fifty-one percent of U.S. respondents say they do not mind doing a little work on vacation, while 44 percent would prefer to be totally disconnected, and five percent enjoy being connected to work while on vacation.
  • Across all countries surveyed, the top reason respondents cited for working on vacation is that there may be urgent situations that need attention – 65 percent of U.S. respondents report feeling this way.
  • U.S. respondents are the most likely to report feeling guilty if they don't work on vacation (18%), and also the most likely to say that their managers expect it (18%).

Top Work Activities Respondents Typically Do While on Vacation


U.S. Respondents

Global Average

Check emails

91%

65%

Respond to emails

85%

56%

Check voicemail

45%

21%

Create / edit documents

42%

26%

Respond to voicemail

40%

20%

Email Trends and Online Connectivity

  • Ninety-one percent of U.S. respondents typically check work email while on vacation.
  • Of those who check work email on vacation, 37 percent say it is an everyday habit and do not consider it to be "work" while on vacation.
  • Forty percent check work email several times per day, while five percent admit to taking a peek every hour or more.
  • Thirty-nine percent of respondents say the rise in Internet connectivity and mobile devices has created an expectation from employers that they should always be available to work. A further 32 percent say it has meant that they feel a need to check in while out of the office.

Vacation Time Allotted Versus What's Considered Fair

Country

Paid Vacation
Days Allotted

Paid Vacation Days
Considered Fair

Difference

Americans

18

22

4

Japanese

19

28

9

Australians

22

24

2

Brazilians

24

33

9

British

24

28

4

Spanish

24

32

8

Germans

26

30

4

Italians

27

31

4

Russians

29

33

4

French

31

31

0

Average

24

29

5

How U.S. Vacation Time Stacks Up Against the Rest of the World

  • U.S. respondents receive less paid vacation time than any of the countries surveyed – 18 days in the U.S., compared to the average of 24.
  • The majority of U.S. respondents (76%) do not feel the amount of paid vacation time given in the U.S. is fair compared to what the rest of the world receives.
  • U.S. respondents on average would like an additional four days of vacation, considering 22 days of paid vacation to be fair and reasonable. However, this is the lowest expectation of the countries surveyed – Brazilians and Russians want the most at 33 days per year.

Satisfied with Amount of
Vacation Time Allotted

Feel Their Vacation Time is Fair
Compared to Rest of World

1.      Germans – 83%

2.      French – 79%

3.      Italians – 76%

4.      British – 72%

5.      Australians – 72%

6.      Spanish – 71%

7.      Japanese – 69%

8.      Americans – 60%

9.      Russians – 58%

10.  Brazilians – 57%

1.      Germans – 89%

2.      Australians – 87%

3.      French – 84%

4.      Russians – 81%

5.      Japanese – 80%

6.      Brazilians – 76%

7.      Italians – 74%

8.      Spanish – 69%

9.      British – 67%

10.  Americans – 24%

Putting a Dollar Value on Vacation Days
Twenty-one percent of U.S. respondents would take a pay reduction in order to gain more time off. For each extra day, the average amount they'd be willing to have their pay decreased is $350.

Give Me a Break

  • Sixty-six percent of U.S. respondents say their vacations leave them feeling refreshed and recharged, and 39 percent say they are better able to handle work stresses after taking a vacation. These benefits typically last 1-2 weeks (27%).
  • To ease the transition back to work, 53 percent return from trips a day or two early to rest and unpack.

"The TripAdvisor survey shows that Americans receive less vacation time than other countries, and when they do take time off it is often more like a 'workation' than a vacation," said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "In today's highly connected world, most Americans feel the need to stay plugged in even while out of the office."

1The survey includes respondents who report their current employment status as full-time, part-time or self-employed.

About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, reaching nearly 280 million unique monthly visitors**, and more than 170 million reviews and opinions covering more than 4 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions. The sites operate in 44 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 24 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.lafourchette.com, www.niumba.com,  www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.comwww.travelpod.com, www.tripbod.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com, www.viator.com, www.virtualtourist.com, and www.kuxun.cn

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, Q1 2014

**Source: Google Analytics, average monthly unique users, Q2 2014; does not include traffic to daodao.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO

SOURCE TripAdvisor

CONTACT: Julie Cassetina, (617) 670-6529, jcassetina@tripadvisor.com