About 60% of the workforce has become remote amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The coronavirus has increased the way many workers do their work – in person or from home – and increases the time they spend on it.
In 2020, the average working day was extended by almost an hour, according to a paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Despite the longer hours, workers also take fewer breaks. Since March, an overwhelming majority of Americans have shortened, postponed or canceled their planned free time, according to a separate survey of more than 2,000 employees in July.
“As your kitchen table becomes your office, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between work and home,” said Claire Barnes, senior vice president of human resources at Monster Worldwide.
“Unfortunately, we have seen more and more workers – in all sectors – not taking holiday and personal time offered by their employers, whether due to an increased workload or a struggle to strike a good work-life balance. to find life. “
Even pre-pandemic, U.S. workers spent only about half of their eligible vacation time, according to a study by work and recruitment website Glassdoor.
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Now the workers are in danger of forfeiting billions in lost benefits if time cannot be banked or rolled over.
Only 42% of companies said they are making changes to holiday policies to increase flexibility, including increasing transfer limits for unused time, according to a report by consulting firm Willis Towers Watson.
In a separate poll by Monster it was found that almost two thirds, or 64%, of the workers said that their employer does not normally allow the holiday, and 4 out of 5 workers said that their employers had no room for maneuver due to the coronavirus crisis made available.
As of January 1, workers will also lose the federal mandate requiring paid leave for those suffering from Covid-19.
The CARES Act included an emergency provision that required qualifying employers to provide the benefit to employees until 31 December – without that policy, there is no national standard for paid family or sick leave.
However, under the terms of the new relief package, companies can still claim a tax credit to subsidize the costs if they choose to grant paid leave in 2021.
According to Bill Gianoukos, founder and CEO of Goodpath, the telehealth program provider, many companies are likely to continue without the mandate to offer the option – just as some workers may switch to more unused holidays.
“Employers understand how important it is to lead a more balanced life and they are more open to making sure employees get the care they need.”
And yet it is the job of employees to plead for themselves, Gianoukos said, “Go back to your employer and ask for time.”
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