Culture of millenial ‘work martyrs’ leads them to forfeit vacation time: study

They’ve been labelled the entitled generation. They’ve been called lazy and told they received too many participation medals, causing them to believe they deserve regular promotions regardless of performance.

They’ve been told they’re needy, narcissistic and compulsive job hoppers -- when in reality switching gigs is a desire that has been expressed in youth across generations – making them the worst possible employees.

However, a new study is attempting to flip some of these perceptions about millennial work ethic upside down.

According to a new report published by Project: Time Off, an initiative created by the U.S. Travel Association, Wednesday millennial workers are the “most likely generation to forfeit time off,” even though they are granted the fewest vacation days.

The research, which was conducted by market researcher GfK, randomly surveyed online 5,641 Americans who worked least 35 hours a week and received paid time off, between Jan. 20, 2016 and Feb. 16.

It found that 43 per cent of millennials are “work martyrs,” compared to 29 per cent of employees overall. 

The study defines “work martyrs” as people who are willing to forgo vacation to show “complete dedication” to their job because of worries about being replaced, guilt about taking time off or believing that only they can handle the duties. 

“The ‘entitled millennial’ narrative is dead wrong when it comes to vacation,” Katie Denis, author of the report and senior direct of Project: Time Off, said in a press release.

“The circumstances of the millennial experience – the Great Recession and its aftershocks, growing student debt and an always-connected lifestyle – have created a perfect storm for their work-martyr behaviour.” 

The study said that the “pressures of American work culture” have encouraged the growth in work martyrs among millennials, with more than 48 per cent believing it is “good” to be considered as such.

This stands in contrast to the 39 per cent of all workers, and well ahead of the Boomers at 32 per cent.

The report said that as millennials continue to transition into management roles and take over from baby boomers, as more than 28 per cent have already done, the issue of work martyrdom could worsen.

It found that 47 per cent of millennials in management roles are prevented from approving time off requests because of company pressure, compared to just 34 per cent of Generation Xers and 37 per cent of baby boomers.

Past research has shown that forfeiting vacation time increases mistakes and resentment at co-workers.

On the flip side, OECD data shows that countries where employees work the fewest annual hours, such as Germany and France, are the most productive.

“There are larger implications for the workforce when people don’t take a vacation,” stressed Denis.

“Time off is essential to employee productivity, creativity and overall performance. Businesses need to recognize the power of time off and work toward creating a positive culture.”