India has been ranked as the fifth most vacation deprived country due to heavy work schedules, according to a global survey. 60 per cent respondents corroborating with the view, Expedia Deprivation Report 2017, an online travel agency.
South Korea stood at number one position with 82 per cent, followed by France (66 per cent), Malaysia (65 per cent) and Hong Kong (64 per cent), it added. Among the least vacation deprived country Norway is ranked number one at 38 per cent followed by the Netherlands (39 per cent), Ireland (44 per cent), Sweden (44 per cent) and Taiwan (44 per cent).
The survey further revealed that 55 per cent Indians take fewer days of the vacation days they get and 28 per cent dont take leaves as work schedule does not allow for vacation or there are not enough staff to cover.
“It is very important to inculcate an organisational culture that promotes healthy work-life balance through timely vacations. While technology helps us leave the office in time, it doesnt necessarily mean that we are disconnected from work,” Expedia India marketing head Manmeet Ahluwalia said.
Indians, the survey found, have not taken a holiday in the last six months because 37 per cent cannot afford a holiday, 36 per cent cant get time off from work and 27 per cent are saving their time for a long holiday.
A good holiday and disconnecting from work at least once or twice a year is crucial for rejuvenating not just the body, but the mind as, it said.
Further, 55 per cent Indians feel that being vacation deprived results in decreased productivity at work while 64 per cent are more focused once back from vacation. About 67 per cent Indians (third globally) have cancelled or postponed vacation plans because of work, after Thailand (75 per cent), UAE (70 per cent), it pointed out.
It revealed that 34 per cent Indians are even willing to take a cut in their salary for extra vacation days. Meanwhile, the survey also revealed that 97 per cent Indians are willing to give up something for a week in order to have one extra day of vacation, including alcohol (46 per cent), dessert (39 per cent), social media (50 per cent), television (54 per cent) and coffee (46 per cent).