Study finds Americans aren’t just skipping vacation time, they’re hurting personal relationships in doing so

As if being overworked weren't enough, a survey of 1,214 adults living in the United States found Americans are choosing to take less vacation time than ever.

Project: Time Off's "The Work Martyr's Affair" study revealed U.S. workers are taking an all-time low 16 days off a year. The average person admitted to skipping at least three milestone moments - birthdays, funerals, kids' events, vacations - per year, and about 43 percent of respondents dedicated less than 20 hours a week to quality family time.

GfK Public Affairs researchers also found overworking can have detrimental effects on personal relationships.

More than one in three couples - 36 percent - argued about balancing work time with time spent with their significant other. In the same percentage of cases, conflicts became an ongoing issue. Relationship expert Dr. Gilda Carle warns talking about the problem early on can help mend bridges before it's too late.

"The study pointed out that arguments can go on for longer than a day and I started to laugh - it can go on for much longer than that," Carle said in a press release about the study. "If these issues are not discussed - and a lot of times, they aren't - then resentment just builds."

Still, a majority of respondents understood that taking a day off here and there won't be too hard. More than 65 percent of workers said they never missed a personal event when using a vacation day while 85 claimed they could easily do so at least one more time this year.

Companies are even starting to help their employees take advantage.

Last May, Chinese conglomerate Tiens Group sent 6,400 workers to France for the company's 20^th anniversary. Similarly, California businesses Betabrand and Think Parallax offer subsidized trips on top of guaranteed time off. The companies, in turn, get refreshed, more devoted workers.

"Our relationships shouldn't be casualties of our work martyr complex. This report should serve as a warning that our loved ones deserve our time," report co-author Katie Denis said. "The solution is straightforward; it's using the time off we already earn to prioritize our relationship and reclaim America's Lost Week."