Germany leads global trend in employees forgoing vacation days

A study by Expedia, titled the Vacation Deprivation Report, indicates that German employees forgo a significant amount of their entitled vacation time. According to the findings, 84% of workers in Germany report feeling they do not have enough leisure time, a figure notably higher than the global average of 62%.

While German law mandates a minimum of 20 days of annual leave, with many employees receiving 30, the study suggests a trend of workers failing to utilize these days. In comparison, only 69% of employees in France reported insufficient leisure time. Similar patterns of higher vacation utilization were noted in the United Kingdom, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia.

The report suggests that workplace pressure and the fear that absence might lead to negative consequences contribute to this trend, as many employees feel indispensable to their employers.