If you’ve got it, use it
By Leo Valiquette
This may be a little off topic for a public relations blog, but it’s one of those issues that can have far-reaching consequences for any organization, impacting productivity, staff morale and the retention of top talent.
I’m talking about vacation time. We want it, we count the days till we can take it, and yet, many of us find one reason or another not to indulge. At least, that’s the conclusion of a report in the news today which you can read at the The National Post, which found that 29 per cent of us are not taking our full allotment of vacation time each year, despite that fact that increased and more flexible vacation time is a big magnet for getting new bodies in the door, especially with the 20-something crowd. According to the study, $6.3 billion worth of vacation time is being given back to employers each year, the equivalent of about 41 million discarded vacation days.
This is creating a condition known as “vacation deprivation,” most often sparked by fears of missing important meetings and being perceived negatively by co-workers and superiors.
Get over it. If you are a valuable contributor to your organization, your allotted vacation time is your just reward. Sure, there’s always a measure of inconvenience when a member of the team is away for a period of time, but that shouldn’t be seen as a barrier to a deserved break that will help one recharge the batteries and return to the job rested and renewed. It’s a short-term pain for a long-term gain. The alternative is burned out employees who no longer perform at their optimum level.
At my previous employer, staff were not allowed to carry over vacation time, or take cash in lieu. The emphasis was on giving staff the break they needed, in no small part because of the liability issue if someone ended up on a stress leave and could blame it on the employer and vacation deprivation.
So as we head into the hot and hazy days of summer, don’t begrudge yourself, or your staff, the right to take that much needed break. I’ll be at the cottage myself next week.
