A recent Newsweek report based on an Amerisleep Survey indicates 37% of surveyed employees used paid time off (PTO) to rest or catch up on sleep (vs. travel or taking a traditional vacation). Needless to say, this constitutes a marked shift from how we thought of PTO in the past. Meanwhile, paid sabbaticals have become an increasingly common addition to hiring ads, as many employers seek to proactively counteract exhaustion and burnout in the service of long-term retention and morale.
Business Takeaway: For businesses combatting employee burnout, exhaustion, and potential turnover, simply encouraging workers to use PTO may not suffice. Even if turnover is not a major issue, a burned out or exhausted workforce equals lost productivity and low morale. You might consider formalizing sabbaticals or other extended leave options in addition to simply supporting real downtime away from the job. And note that a sabbatical, while historically thought of as a long stretch (e.g., six months or a year), need not be nearly that long. Such benefits can also be paid or unpaid. Just be sure that your policy includes a requirement that the employee stick around for a period of time thereafter.