During the 4th of July week, Gen Zers and millennials are opting for "silent vacations" rather than using paid time off.

This week, AAA predicts that 70.9 million individuals will travel for the Fourth of July, surpassing the previous record for the busiest Independence Day holiday. However, not all are requesting time off from work.

A recent Harris Poll of 1,274 American workers found that more than half of Gen Z workers and millennials have "quiet vacationed" during the July Fourth holiday week, and it is predicted that a similar trend will occur this year.

According to Tim Osiecki, director of thought leadership and trends at The Harris Poll, younger professionals feel pressured to remain "constantly available and productive" even during a holiday week, which is why they do not request time off.

Gen Zers and millennials may also be quiet vacationing to manage constraints on PTO and heightened feelings of burnout.

"He states that employees are not attempting to deceive or avoid their responsibilities, but rather they are seeking a balance between their need for rest and the demands of their jobs."

One of the 'least productive' weeks of the year

This year, July 4 falls on a Thursday, which is sandwiched between two workdays, exacerbating the productivity slump that typically occurs around the federal holiday.

According to the Harris Poll survey, over half of Gen Zers and millennials admit to not being very productive during the Fourth of July holiday.

Despite being one of the busiest travel times of the year, with nearly half of Americans planning vacations around Independence Day, only 10% of employers shut down the entire workweek around July 4, according to a survey.

A significant number of Gen Z and millennial workers believe that taking a full week off would boost their productivity, motivate them to work harder, and encourage them to take on more responsibilities in the workplace.

Osiecki suggests that a small trade-off could increase employees' focus and engagement during the "least productive" season of the year.

A 'red flag' of a bad workplace culture

According to Osiecki, if employees frequently feel the urge to take secret breaks, it may indicate that their workplace lacks an effective PTO system or a supportive culture.

Younger workers are more likely to feel nervous about requesting time off, with 58% of Gen Z and 61% of millennials admitting to this fear.

A majority of Americans surveyed by Harris Poll expressed a desire for their employers to prioritize the importance of taking time off.

"Recognizing that 'quiet vacationing' is not a passive trend, but a symptom of a larger issue, managers should understand that employees may feel uncomfortable or unsupported when taking time off," Osiecki explains. "This suggests that there may be a lack of trust or communication breakdown between managers and their teams."

Beating the summer slump with a positive PTO culture

A summer slump at work is often caused by warmer weather, which results in longer vacations, shorter workdays, decreased productivity, and lower team morale.

During the months of June to August, it is beneficial for bosses to reassess their PTO policies, particularly during popular vacation months such as July, according to Osiecki.

Employers can offer various PTO benefits, such as company-wide week-long shutdowns, mandating a certain amount of time off, or giving employees floating holidays to use throughout the year.

Osiecki advises managers to lead by example by setting clear expectations for requesting time off, normalizing PTO by taking time as a boss, and supporting their employees when they request a vacation.

When employees feel their need for rest is understood and respected, they are more likely to be productive, engaged, and loyal, Osiecki adds.

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