Taking time away from work is in the best interest of employees andtheir employers, because productivity increases when employees comeback to work rejuvenated. (Image: Shutterstock)

Good news: more than a few workers plan to actually to use their vacation days for some fun or someneeded R&R, according to a Monster survey.

A third (34 percent) of the survey respondents plan to usevacation days on summer travel, while 11 percent are saving themfor winter holidays.

Taking time away from work is also in the best interest ofemployers, because productivity increases when employees come backto work rejuvenated, says Monster Career Expert Vicki Salemi.

Related: 5 big players in any vacation benefitsplan

“Employers should not only walk the walk but also talk the talkand encourage employees to take their hard-earned personal time,”Salemi says. “This means leading by example. Executives should taketime as well and log off—truly unplug—for their own sake, and toset a precedent for a healthy workplace.”

This not only sends a message to employees that it's not onlyencouraged to take time off, it's “downright acceptable” whenmanagers take time off themselves, she says.

Nearly 29 percent of the survey respondents are planning to takerandom days off to get away from work and enjoy a “staycation.” Andalmost 18 percent are utilizing vacation days as mental health daysthroughout the year, aka “sick-and-tired days.”

“It's wonderful that these mental health days are being offeredand acknowledged, and that job seekers are using them,” Salemisays. “Especially if an employee has a toxic job, boss orworkplace, this is critical — and remember to use those days alsofor interviewing for a better job!”

In fact, if individuals realize that they need more than anoccasional day off for their mental health, they should seriouslyreconsider their current job situation. “This is a red flag thatyou should probably look for a much better job,” she says.

The survey also found that 9 percent of the respondents don'tthink they will use vacation days at all, which concernsSalemi.

“Not only is it already earned and money they're leaving on thetable, there may be a deeper underlying reason,” she says. “Do theyfeel like they can't take the time off? Do they feel threatenedsomeone will sabotage them while they're away? Are they afraidthey'll be fired so they don't take time off and don't even takeweekends off?”

If any of these scenarios are valid, individuals again shouldthink twice about their current job — another red flag that it'stime to look for a better job, Salemi says.

“Above all, no matter how you spend your time off, make sure youspend it,” she says. “And if your employer doesn't endorse it, finda better one that does.”

Read more: 

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• Employees working on vacation: How can you stopthem? Should you?
• Coming to NYC: Mandatorypaid-vacation?