New Poll: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Magaziner Proposal to Guarantee Paid Vacation for All Workers

WASHINGTON, DC – New polling released by the Brookings Institution demonstrates overwhelming support for the U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner’s proposal to guarantee paid vacation for all workers through his Protected Time Off Act. Recent polling from Data for Progress also shows broad support for the proposal.

The Brookings polling finds that 9 out of 10 Americans support earned paid time off as a basic right, and 72 percent support guaranteeing paid vacation for all workers. 

Similarly, polling from Data for Progress found that 82 percent of likely voters support 2-weeks of paid vacation for full-time workers, as proposed in Magaziner’s PTO Act. This strong support is across ideological lines, with 84 percent of Democrats, 83 percent of Independents, and 81 percent of Republicans supporting the proposal. 

This data underscores strong public support for a guaranteed time-off policy that benefits all workers, alongside policies to expand paid sick leave and paid family leave. 

“Every American worker deserves time off to rest, recharge, or just spend time with the people they love without worrying about missing a paycheck,” said Magaziner. “This new polling makes clear that Americans overwhelmingly agree paid vacation should be a basic right. I am proud to lead the PTOAct to ensure all workers can earn the time off they deserve.”

More than 27 million private-sector workers in the United States, over one in five, receive no paid vacation at all. 

The United States is the only advanced economy nation in the world that doesn’t guarantee any paid vacation for workers. By contrast, the European Union guarantees workers at least 20 paid vacation days per year, with some countries mandating as many as 25 or 30 annual days off. 

The Protected Time Off (PTO)Act will: 

• Provide all employees with guaranteed paid vacation time, usable for any reason and paid at their regular wage. Full-time workers will earn a minimum of two weeks of paid vacation per year.
• This leave will be in addition to any paid sick leave or family and medical leave already guaranteed by law.
• Protect employees against discrimination for exercising their right to take annual paid time off.

Magaziner’s PTO Act is endorsed by the AFL-CIO; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); UNITE HERE; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Economic Opportunity Institute; Family Values @ Work; National Employment Law Project; National Partnership for Women & Families; Paid Leave for All; UnidosUS; ZERO TO THREE; AFT; NEA; National Women’s Law Center Action Fund; Economic Policy Institute; SEIU; Congressional Dads Caucus; Congressional Labor Caucus.
Full text of the PTO Act can be found here.