LAUSR

Abstract Previous studies have shown a negative relationship between working hours and happiness. Moreover, application of creativity in the workplace is a critical determinant of organizational performance and employee well-being. However, the effects of workers' leave and vacation experiences on their occupational well-being and life satisfaction through creativity remain unexplored. Therefore, we focused on the ability of employee creativity to induce happiness, and hypothesized that vacations would enhance employees' creativity and thereby increase their well-being. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted an Internet survey involving 800 Japanese workers. The questionnaire consisted of items concerning demographic information, recovery experience, employees' creative behavior, occupational well-being, and life satisfaction. The results showed that recovery experiences during vacations promoted employee creativity and improved occupational well-being and life satisfaction. Our results have important implications and show both limitations and some intriguing directions for future research.