Ready for summer? Make your PTO count

VACATION TIME: Flexjobs rounded up a list of remote-friendly companies incentivizing employees to take vacations with reimbursements, stipends and allowances. While it might sound too good to be true, this kind of benefit is a strategic way to encourage employees to rest and come back to work stronger, explains Keith Spencer, career expert at FlexJobs . 

"When employees are supported and encouraged to take vacations by their employers, they often return feeling rejuvenated and experience reduced stress levels, increased job satisfaction, improved physical health and an enhanced sense of well-being," says Spencer. "These types of benefits can make employees feel more valued and appreciated, which can then help reduce burnout and attrition."

See which companies topped the list...and if they're hiring now: 15 remote-friendly companies that pay for your vacations

MENTAL HEALTH MAINTENANCE: According to a Headspace survey, 77% of workers claim that work stress negatively impacts their physical health, while 40% say it contributes to existing mental health challenges. Stress can completely warp someone's life — and it's unlikely that employees will remain loyal to a company that has caused them that much harm, underlines Dr. Jenna Glover , chief clinical officer at Headspace .

"When a work setting has a degrading quality on life, that's a sobering moment for an employee," she says. "They might consider whether this [job] is sustainable. Is this a place where they can continue to work?"

Do need a break, or a new career? How managers can combat stress in the workplace

USE IT OR LOSE IT: As U.S. workers get closer to summer, they may be questioning just how much of their PTO to use, if they use any at all. Resume.io ranked the U.S. as the second worst country for paid time off out of 197 nations, with U.S. workers only having an average of 10 days off (not including federal holidays). Unlike other countries, the U.S. does not have federal regulations that require employers to give employees a certain amount of PTO, and even with a workplace policy, 46% of Americans take less time than they're allotted annually, according to Pew Research Center. 

Here's how to avoid leaving time, and money, on the table: Use it or lose it: How to maximize your PTO throughout the year