Tech Watch
Vacations are not what they used to be
Published: Jan 8, 2007
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Will vacation time go the way of the Edsel? It's hard to believe, but an increasing number of workers are uptight about being away from their jobs too long — especially management-bound fast-trackers and executives.
Whether they fear that their competition will overtake them, or that they'll miss out on something important, the mere thought of being away from their office too long makes them extremely uptight. In fact, they're so stressed about it, they'll often refuse to take off on holidays and won't use up all of their vacation time.
More than one-third (37 percent) of American workers anticipated not using all of their time off last year, according to a survey conducted by the Hudson Institute, a Tampa-based HR consulting company. In fact, one in four workers (24 percent) had not taken any time off last year, and an additional 14 percent had not taken a vacation longer than an extended weekend.
And when they manage to get away, 39 percent of employees check in with the office most days — if not every day. And a whopping 72 percent of the workforce obsessively check their voice mail by phone and their e-mail via PC or Blackberry to some extent throughout the day when they are supposed to be winding down on vacation, according to Hudson's findings. It's no surprise that, as a result of the work they missed, 38 percent of workers and managers return from vacation no more relaxed than when they left, concluded Hudson's researchers.
So, why are American workers becoming workaholics? The culprit is technology, according to Peg Buchenroth, vice president of human resources, Hudson North America. "Modern technology makes staying connected to work while on vacation easier than ever and helps to blur the line between work and personal time," she says.
Holidays, especially the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas and through the beginning of the new year, should be a time for managers and workers to slow down and relax, says Los Angeles psychologist and workplace specialist Ken Siegel.
But with increasing workloads, the pressure to complete work and projects on time doesn't disappear during holiday periods. Thus, managers feel vulnerable and conflicted, Siegel observes.
"Their bosses expect the work to be completed, and their families want them to spend time with them," he says. "For managers who are already accessible some 18 hours a day, the holidays can reach a level of major distress. They have to keep their staff and business moving forward while family obligations increase. For those managers who are committed to a hectic pace, the holidays often feel like an inconvenience. They fear losing touch with work and their associates who actually do take time off during the holidays. Most of all, they often fear appearing expendable, just as budgets are being finalized for the coming year."
At the same time, many IT supervisors and managers feel that holidays present an opportunity to catch up on projects that need attention but never reach the top of the "to do" list, adds Siegel. "While many non-IT personnel are out and businesses slow down the week between Christmas and New Year's, IT staffers are in the office working on upgrades and maintenance projects that can't be done while the office is fully staffed and functional."
For some IT managers, the excuse to be in the office while others are out and family demands mount offers a welcome respite, Siegel adds.
While all of our awesome communication technology has improved our lives, it also has complicated them. As surveys and statistics point out, there are downsides to being too connected. Uppermost, it makes working long hours easier because there is no longer any door separating work and home. But overwork can lead to burnout.
We need time to decompress, relax and have fun. There is truth to the saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Translation: In order to be happy, healthy and lead a fulfilling life, you need to have fun and relax.
