Mel Borins, M.D. author of "Go Away Just for the Health of It" and "An Apple A Day: A Holistic Planner" says that studies show people who take vacations live longer than those who do not. A 2000 study showed that men who took annual vacations were 21 percent less likely to die over a period of nine years than those who never took a vacation. Physical ailments can also decrease or go away during vacations and stay away for a period after the employee returns to work.

Studies also show that vacations can benefit employers as well. After a vacation, employees find work more interesting, become more efficient at their jobs and absenteeism actually decreases. When people don't take time off, their work can be affected negatively, often resulting in more medical expenses and missed work than if they had taken the time.

Americans are taking less time off now than they ever have. According to one travel study, vacation time has shrunk from an average of more than a week 25 years ago to just four days last year. In 2004, 35% of employees said they didn't take their time off because of job pressures.

Borins says the attitude that time off is wasteful needs to change. The United States is one of the only modern countries that does not mandate minimum vacation time by law. If a company wants faithful, enthusiastic, committed employees, they need to make sure that people use their vacation time.