Time-off programs gaining prevalence among manufacturing, distribution employers: Survey

Programs help to increase productivity

Formal paid time-off programs are gaining prevalence among United States employers in the manufacturing and distribution sector. Nearly one-quarter (24.5 per cent) of manufacturers and distributors now offer such a program to employees, found the 2011 Compensation Data Manufacturing & Distribution survey by Compdata Surveys which polled 1,100 employers across the country.

These programs group together all paid absences, including vacation, sick and personal days. Employees with at least one year of service earn an average 13.1 days off per year under this program. Those with five years of service receive 17.5 days, while those with 10 years of service average 20.8 days.

Employees with one full year of service receive an average of 9.3 vacation days, those with five years of service earn an average of 13.2 days of vacation and those with 10 years of service receive 16.4 days. Employees with 15 years of service receive 19.1 vacation days.

Employees are also granted an average of three personal days per year.
In addition, employees are given an average of seven sick days per year, found the survey.

The average waiting period for employees to receive time-off benefits after the start of employment is 110.6 days.

“Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is more important to workers today than ever before,” said Amy Kaminski, director of marketing at Compdata Surveys. “By developing a comprehensive time-off program, employers are helping their employees achieve this balance, and are often rewarded with increased productivity in return.”

More than 65 per cent of manufacturing and distribution companies allow employees to carry over unused days, but 88 per cent place a limit on the number of days that can be carried over.

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