Workplace burnout is reshaping summer travel this year for workers. Because they’re too mentally taxed to plan anything complicated, instead, they’re choosing low-effort, pre-packaged travel options over complex itineraries.
When we asked Glassdoor Community users, “What does your ideal vacation/time off plan look like for this summer?” 40% of respondents said all-inclusive resorts/cruises. Another 37% said Euro Summer. So, how are workers funding travel in this economy, and what are burned-out employees doing when they can't afford big trips? Let’s dive into what they said.
The backstory: Economic anxiety is causing many workers to stay in roles they’re unhappy with, but our latest research shows it’s not slowing them down from using their paid time off (PTO). In a separate poll, 39% percent of professionals said the state of the economy and job market is not impacting their PTO plans.
“I'm not going to cancel my travel and take a loss in the form of cancellation fees simply because the stock market is in crisis today. Rather, I'll disconnect completely and enjoy my well-deserved time off.” - Director 1
“Go big or go home. I save up specifically so my vacation isn't also a reminder of the job market/economy.” - Associate 1
Zoom in: Even though the majority of poll respondents are still planning to travel, it doesn't mean they are overlooking an uncertain economy. Another 36% said they're actually opting for more budget-friendly vacations or staycations. But, even with economic instability as the backdrop, many workers are prioritizing mental health over financial stability to escape workplace burnout.
“If burnout is close at hand, then beach or Euro trip would be top of the list. If physically exhausted, beach is top priority.” - Associate 1
“I prefer to self-medicate by booking vacations! It's the one time I go all-out even if I'm stressed at work or feeling like there's going to be a recession. I will pull back in other areas though.” - Analyst 1
How workers are paying: All-inclusives and cruises are mostly plan-free trips, but they also often offer payment plans. In a separate poll, we found that 47% of workers are dipping into their savings to fund these summer breaks. We tapped our lead researcher, Chris Martin, to shed light on the why and the potential long-term impact of skimming from savings for a summer escape right now.
“Using savings for a vacation can be a totally rational response to burnout, even though dipping into savings is typically discouraged. The key trade-off is between immediate and future benefits, and the implication of this change of plans is that people are deciding they need that vacation now, maybe more than they thought they would – and even if it comes at the expense of their future selves,” he said.
Low-budget mental breaks: Haven’t quite saved enough for an all-out summer getaway, or uncomfortable with big (or medium) travel? Community users have some wallet-friendly alternatives.
- Take a road trip.
“We’re going into savings mode and as long as everything is good we’ll take a week off in the summer for a road trip, which can can find ways to save money depending on our circumstances” - Director 2
- Use a credit card for small purchases to earn points for future travel.
“No summer travel this year. My fall trips will all be put on the card and promptly paid off so I get miles for them.” - Email Marketing Manager 1
- Do a local staycation.
“My vacations have always been low-budget couchsurfing affairs or rejuvenating staycations.” - PwC 1
Join the conversation around summer travel on Glassdoor Community.