Study: Americans are taking less vacation time

>>> you.

>>> back now at 7. 43. it's becoming a no-vacation nation. a new study reveals more americans are refusing to take time off from work citing stress, fears of being replaced, so how can you take a break without it putting the brakes on your career? let turn to nicole williams, a workplace expert. good morning to you.

>> hi, good morning.

>> this year americanss are receiving two fewer days than they did last year and they are not using all of them.

>> they allocated the day, but they are not taking them. you said it. it's fear. it's the fact that, you know, if i take this vacation time, will my boss realize that i'm not necessary? will i be replaces? you know, there's a matter of getting everybody on the same schedule and then ultimately, too, savannah, there's a fear that i'm going to come back and i'll be stuck with days worth of work, not even worth taking the vacation because i'll be paying for it for works afterward.

>> you feel strongly it's good for the workplace and good for you to take vacation. i have to put this graphic up on the screen because this caught my eye. when you look at what americans take for vacation versus the rest of the world , in europe, they get like an average of 30 days .

>> yes. six weeks, and they take it consecutively, whereas here we're just trying to get a day in here and there, and i think, too, there's a sense of bravado around not taking vacation in the u.s. in addition to the fact, that you know, with the high unemployment rate you have people that are legitimately afraid of taking those days off.

>> yeah, and a lot of frankly employers do look down own if you take your vacation, right?

>> no, i did a little poll, and while it's not politically correct to say this, at the end of the day this employer has to, you know, find someone to take your spot. the work still exists, and you don't, and there is an issue, of course.

>> make your pitch why is it good, why does it make you a better employee to take your vacation?

>> it absolutely does, savannah. strategically in the long term, there are times when are you busy and seasons you can't take time off, but it replenishes you and you're more creative. you're able to produce on a level that gets you to recognize your career so i'm a big proponent for it.

>> better for employers as well.

>> better for players because you are more productive. be smart about it, be an early bird, look at your schedule in january. highlight times that are best for you to take off and best for your employer for you to take off.

>> that goes for your first tip which goes to scheduling is everything.

>> you recognize in some industries, for example, if you're an accountant, you're not taking march and april off, you're not.

>> or if you're in retail you're not getting time off this holiday season . you need to be realistic, and you have to understand, i get a lot of young people just graduating, getting three weeks vacation and they think they can take three weeks consecutively and you have to be realistic. when you're new on the job there's some times when you've got to pull it out and senior people will get to take the great holidays off.

>> next two tips quickly. prepare to relax.

>> yes, yes. you really want to delegate your work and make this as easy as possible on your colleagues and boss so it's not notice that had you're gone.

>> and then finally, i love this, return with grace. don't brag will, look at my tan. i look fabulous. vacation was so great.

>> and i am so jet lagged, just had a 12-hour flight, i'm exhausted.

>> climbing mt. evrest, it's tough.

>> really, you want to keep it under cover, you know. you don't want to be talking about what a great time you are, or how tired you are upon your return.

>> be polite, in other words. nicole williamson. and i'll be