No rest for the weary: Fewer vacations, with more interuptions
Filed under: Communication, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views
Few employees plan to take vacation this year. And those that do will check with the office more frequently. Is this a good thing for companies?
More than a third (35%) of employees haven’t taken and don’t plan to take a vacation in 2009, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey.
That’s compared to 20% in 2007.
The main reason is the economy, with 71% of those non-travelers saying it’s because they can’t afford to go away. Another 20% say they’re afraid of losing their jobs if they take any time off.
Those that do get out don’t plan on making a complete break. About 28% of those employees plan to contact the office at least once while they’re gone, compared to 20% in 2007. The reason: pressure from employers. Half of companies said they expect workers to be able to keep in touch while they’re away.
While companies may appreciate the dedication and be glad to see fewer empty desks this summer, experts warn employers against encouraging employees to skip their time off. Vacations are key to maintaining productivity and preventing burnout, they say.
Managers can set a good example by taking time off themselves, and by not e-mailing or calling employees who are on vacation.
Comments
One Comment on No rest for the weary: Fewer vacations, with more interuptions
-
Randi G. on
Tue, 16th Jun 2009 2:06 pm
Why do we think being a workaholic is a good thing? We should all have a nice balance between work and personal life. We’ve all heard that no one, on their deathbed, regrets spending too much time with family. Yet companies and bosses and supervisors demand constant availability. Our vaunted “work ethic” has gotten out of control and it’s counter-productive. If we respect our employees, they are much more likely to respect us.
