The holiday season often brings increased stress in the workplace, with 61% of people reporting negative effects, according to a Monster survey of 612 U.S. workers in November. In the U.S., where there are no national laws guaranteeing paid vacation time, the culture of overwork prevails, and the average American gets 10 vacation days per year after one year of service. On the other hand, workers in countries like the UK, where there are laws and a culture that prioritize paid time off, enjoy more extended vacations.

For example, UK workers are entitled to 28 paid vacation days each year, and some employers offer additional perks like mental health days and birthdays off. Jane Naumova, a 25-year-old worker in London, benefits from her employer’s generous time-off policies, which include a complete shutdown from December 22 to January 3. Her employer promotes a healthy relationship with work and encourages employees to fully unplug during their scheduled time away.

Naumova prepares for her time off by creating handover materials, discussing plans with her team, and splitting tasks among colleagues. While she puts in some longer days leading up to her break, her team’s extra efforts are reasonable, and there are clear instructions from management to reclaim any emergency time worked. Naumova emphasizes the importance of remembering that paid time off is already included in one’s salary, and it shouldn’t be seen as something to work towards or feel awkward about when requesting it. Overall, Naumova appreciates her company’s support for time off, making her a better-rested employee likely to stay with the company.