OVERVIEW

Everybody needs a holiday, and research has shown that time off brings a number of benefits to employees, such as stress reduction, which in turn leads to better mental and physical wellbeing, as well as a more positive frame of mind.[1] Holidays improve the overall quality of life then, particularly as it relates to work and productivity.

According to a 2013 study conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management in conjunction with the US Travel Association, around 90 percent of human-resource professionals believe that holidays are of vital importance to matters of productivity. This belief has been formalized by the many European Union countries that mandate at least 20 days of annual leave, in addition to public holidays. As a result of such policies, these European countries generally achieve higher rates of productivity than America does.[2] Moreover, based on the results of a recent study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), national or public holidays also contribute to increased productivity and growth.