Outski: Ensure Your Company's Success and Employees' Happiness in 2015

If you've been searching for ways to boost enthusiasm among employees, look no further than your company's benefits package or health and wellness program. Then, take it up a notch in 2015. Don't know where to start? It's simple. Add travel perks, such as Outski's 401(play)® program, to your list of company benefits. Many companies have health and wellness program benefits that include nutrition coaching, gym membership reimbursement, and even chair massages at the office. While these are all great, it seems as if employers only want to encourage healthy habits that can be taken advantage of while on the job, or after work. Many of these benefits are simply distractions from what could be an otherwise productive work day. Additionally, the benefit some of these perks provide isn't lasting.

The problem with vacation time, however, is that it is often overlooked as being a key aspect of a healthy lifestyle, which is also why it isn't included in many health and wellness programs. This is surprising, since it is actually integral to staying well, and also has lasting benefits. Additionally, the American attitude towards vacation time and work-life balance, is highly skewed. In fact, America is the only developed nation to not provide any sort of federally mandated time off. Another problem is that Millennials, more than any other generation, have been shown to feel more guilty about using all of their vacation days. Not surprisingly, Millennials are also the most stressed-out generation.

We don't need to have a bunch of high-strung, under-performing, overworked people running our nation, especially when all it takes to remedy this is hitting the road. Recent studies have proven that taking a planned, dedicated break away from work (i.e. vacation) is a huge boon to an employee's happiness and productivity (and your bottom line). This is why it is imperative to do away with the old perception in America that you can't get ahead if you don't work 60 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, and replace it with this new, more balanced stand.

In many aspects, change is already happening. For instance, workers are less likely to be seen as lazy by their bosses if they take that much-needed leisure time. More and more employers understand that this time is necessary to the overall performance of their employees. Employers just have to convince workers of this, because many still worry that their job may be in jeopardy if they take time off. Adding 401(play)® to your company's list of benefits is an excellent way to actively encourage a positive work-life balance. It sends the message that you care about your employees. Also, because of the lack of federal regulations on vacation time, the onus is on you as the employer to make sure your employees use their vacation days and PTO.

The easiest, smartest way to improve corporate culture, boost productivity, and have a stand-out benefits package in 2015 is to actively encourage employees to travel, by providing them a means to do so, with a 401(play)®. Let's work together to increase the value that America places on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and its importance towards having a successful career.