According to a 2017 survey by Robert Half printed in the April 2018 edition of SHRM’s HR Magazine, 35% of Americans don’t use all of their vacation days. Here are some reasons why:
• 43% said they were saving time for something later
• 21% said they had too much work to do
• 15% said they couldn’t afford a vacation
• 9% felt guilty taking time off from work
• 9% had other reasons for not take time off
• 3% said they were discouraged by their boss
One reported explanation for the “other” is that employees want to advance their careers through long hours and be available for new projects. Sadly, there is evidence that no vacation breaks can result in a leg up for employees. Oxford Economics, a forecasting and consulting firm, found that approximately 13% of managers were less likely to promote employees who took all of their vacation time. So much for work life balance.
But employers should beware of workaholics who hoard work and refuse to delegate. Planned absences allow a company to look at what projects an employee did not complete or did not complete correctly, audit emails, reconcile bank accounts, and evaluate customer relationships for evidence of embezzlement, fraud or other inappropriate activities. Most importantly, it forces employees to rest and recharge, making them better employees.
Summer is a great time to remind employees to plan their vacations, use their free time, and ensure a healthy business.
