While new fulltime jobs are at a virtual standstill, the jobs that are available are more flexible, with more and more people working temporary and contract jobs to make ends meet. But more varied work means it’s harder to take time off.

WNYC’s Brian Lehrer show spoke with Bloomberg BusinessWeek editor Peter Coy about the rise of the temp worker.

The uncertainty of temp work isn’t helping us to relax. Minnesota Public Radio’s In the Loop talked to a pair of vacation experts, who mused about the shortcomings of vacation policies at U.S. companies.

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But if you are among the lucky few with time to take off, now may be the best time to start using those credit card reward points, as new programs are aimed at those trying to save money and take vacation, PBS’s Nightly Business Report notes.

Card issuers are always looking for the newest “hook” to entice consumers to choose their cards over the hundreds of other reward programs available. To do that, they look to trends in the economy. Economy booming? Offer cards that reward spending. Times are tight? Appeal to the budget conscious.