(Newswire.net — June 12, 2015) — What are the origins of the American vacation? How has it evolved over time? How does technology influence our modern-day vacations? These questions are worth investigating as we explore the history and evolution of what we now call vacation time.
Origins of the American vacation
In 1869, America attempted to recover from the atrocities of the Civil War and the effects of rapid industrialization. During this key year, a preacher named William H. H. Murray published a book, called “Adventures in the Wilderness; or, Camp-Life in the Adirondacks,” which explored the benefits of canoeing, hiking, fishing and enjoying nature. These pursuits, he argued, helped people cope with the demands of life. This book gained popularity and Americans specifically enjoyed exploring the Adirondacks, which resulted in a boom for hotels in that area. The elite and wealthy, particularly the Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Rockefellers, took an interest in this kind of exploration and saw it as chance to vacate their regular abodes and treat them to a few days or weeks of private luxury. It is here that the idea of a vacation began.
American employees resist taking time off
In 1910, President William Taft spearheaded a campaign that advocated that every American worker needs at least two to three months of vacation. This effort did not result in the passage of a law, but over the following decades, employers began adopting paid time off (PTO) policies. The popularity of PTO grew 47 percent between 2002 and 2011 and traditional time-off plans decreased by 23 percent.
Despite the option of traditional vacation time and PTO, American employees use only 51 percent of their vacation time and paid time off. Some 40 percent of employees will leave their vacation time on the table at the end of the year, according to a recent survey by Glassdoor. Part of this resistance is that the U.S. is one of the few developed countries that doesn’t require employers to provide paid time off. Although vacation time is available, workers don’t feel like they can take that extra time off due to fear of getting behind, losing their job or not obtaining a promotion.
How technology has altered vacations
Even when employees do take vacation, 61 percent of Americans work while they are on vacation despite complaints from their family members, according to respondents from the Glassdoor survey. The modern vacation has evolved from trekking the wilderness to going on cruises, staying in high luxury hotels and exploring Sin City. These vacations allow people to stay plugged in, work and enjoy some leisure time. Since most people fear getting behind on vacation, the option to work as they relax reduces overall stress.
Exploring the wilderness may have appealed to employees in previous years, but the modern worker prefers a hybrid vacation that offers relaxation and getting work done.