What would you choose — a thousand dollars or an extra week of vacation? At first glance, the answer seems obvious, but new research has shown: free time makes us much happier and more human than money.
Vacation vs. Bonus
Researchers from the Journal of Managerial Psychology found that extra days off provide more emotional satisfaction than a cash bonus. Employees who had the opportunity to rest felt that they were treated as individuals rather than as "cogs" in the system.
People described their emotions with words like "warm," "calm," "inspiring" — in contrast to "mechanical" and "superficial," which were used to characterize cash bonuses.
The type of work and income did not affect this: the effect was observed across all groups of workers.
Why Rest is So Important
Vacation helps restore the balance between work and personal life. Even an imaginary week of vacation (within the framework of the experiment) created a sense of greater separation between professional and personal spheres — and, consequently, a feeling of inner peace.
The further a person is from work tasks, the more humanity and satisfaction they feel. This is directly related to engagement and reduced employee turnover.
Why Employers Should Pay Attention
The research shows: time can be a better reward than money.
- Extra days off are perceived as a sign of care.
- Cash bonuses are seen as a transactional element, devoid of emotional impact.
- Flexible vacations can be used as a tool for motivation and increasing loyalty.
"Organizations seeking to strengthen humane values can benefit from incorporating time-based rewards into their incentive systems," the authors note.
Who Vacation Cannot Replace Money For
Researchers acknowledge that for people facing financial difficulties, a cash bonus remains preferable. The study also does not account for the phenomenon of Americans who often do not use their vacation at all:
- in 2023, 62% of workers did not take their allotted days off;
- in 2018, 768 million vacation days were "burned" across the country.
Often the reason is pressure from management or fear of accumulated work.
Conclusion
Vacation is not just a break, but an investment in humanity, productivity, and dedication to work. Sometimes a week of rest can provide more energy than any bonus.
Source: woman
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