Number of Americans Taking Vacation Hit a Low Point

A 2011 poll conducted by Marist found that only 45 percent of respondents plan to take a vacation this summer. That’s the lowest number in the survey’s 11 year history. And only 35 percent of those who are planning getaways will be taking longer trips, as opposed to weekend jaunts.  Why  aren’t  more Americans taking vacations? And how does forgoing vacations affect both employers’ and employees’ bottom lines? Wallace Huffman, labor economist with Iowa State University, talks about why people are not taking vacation this summer.  Lee Burbage,  chief people fool at The Motley Fool, forces his employees to take vacation time.