Work-Life 101
Career coach Rita Friedman talks with reporter Josh Sidorowicz about life-work balance and paid time off on the CBS News "In Your Corner" podcast
Are you guilty of not using your paid time off? You're definitely not alone. A recent survey* shows 1 in 4 American workers didn't take a single vacation day in the last year — and even those with PTO often feel too guilty, stressed, or overwhelmed to use it.
In this episode of the In Your Corner podcast from CBS News Philadelphia, consumer reporter Josh Sidorowicz talks with Philadelphia‑based career coach Rita Friedman to unpack why so many workers avoid taking time off, what it's actually costing us, and how you can protect your time, your mental health, and your work‑life balance.
00:00 Intro: We're not taking our PTO
01:43 What's really stopping us from taking time off
03:32 The cost of not taking a break
05:53 How to plan ahead and actually use your PTO
07:05 Turning 15 days into 40?
10:18 Be the thermostat, not the thermometer
11:33 "Micro‑boundaries" that protect your sanity
14:35 Navigating PTO at work (or the lack of it)
17:03 The hidden downsides of “unlimited PTO.”
20:29 Real‑world strategies from Josh & Rita
24:22 Closing thoughts
*FlexJobs Survey: Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. Workers Took No Vacation Days (PTO Statistics 2025)
