Why is it still so hard to take a vacation?

Workers in China frequently forgo paid annual leave despite legal protections, driven by deep-seated "vacation shame" and the fear that taking time off signals disloyalty or hinders career advancement. While local governments increasingly issue notices to encourage rest and stimulate domestic tourism, these measures often fail to address the underlying workplace culture where heavy workloads and insufficient staffing make taking a break feel like a professional liability. Data indicates that nearly 57% of employees do not fully utilize their entitled leave, a trend mirrored in the United States and other competitive global markets. While some regions, like Australia, implement mandatory leave to prevent burnout, and others, like South Korea, have tested forced log-offs to curb overwork, the tension between productivity-focused corporate expectations and the necessity of rest persists, leaving many employees trapped in a cycle of guilt and professional anxiety.