U.S. workers give up vacation time

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ATLANTA, May 25 (UPI) -- U.S. employees have an average of 18 vacation days a year and only use 14, a survey by a travel booking Web site finds.

While workers in Europe are also likely to let a few days go, they have far more vacation time, CNN Money reported Wednesday. In England, workers use an average of 25 of their 28 days off, while in France they take 35 of a hefty 37 vacation days, Expedia.com found.

In the United States, 38 percent of those surveyed by Expedia said they use their entire vacation allotment. Another recent poll by Rasmussen Reports found 72 percent say they check in every week or so when they are away.

By sacrificing four of their 18 days, U.S. employees in effect returned 448 million days or more than $67 billion to their employers in 2010, Expedia said.

Scott Spiker of First Command Financial Services said U.S. workers may be fiscally smart to give up some vacation time.

"Vacations tend to suck up money. They tempt people to spend more, save less and take on more debt," he told CNN. "By forfeiting some of their vacation days, Americans are trying to eliminate the temptation to spend money."