This blog post was written by Shelley Johnson
Summer is finally here! For many employees, summer is the ideal time to use their annual allotment of paid time off. Are dreams of sunshine and barbeques dancing in your head this time of year?
For employers, the start of summer is the perfect time to review paid time off policies with supervisors and employees. How much advance notice do employees need to give in order to take vacation? Do they need to receive prior approval from their supervisor? Are supervisors prepared to balance the demands of vacation requests with the necessary business goals and deadlines? Are departments coordinating vacation schedules to ensure the business runs smoothly? These are all pertinent questions to consider and clarify with your team.
That being said, will employees actually take time off for vacation this summer? One survey found that in these stressful economic times, at least half of the survey respondents thinks they will forgo their summer vacation this year. This decision may be due to financial concerns, while others may be feeling that they just can’t take the time away from work due to increased pressure to perform and stretched resources. While this dedication is admirable, vacation deprivation can take a toll on the workforce through increased levels of stress and anxiety, rising absenteeism, and growing dissatisfaction with work. This can be a direct result of too much work and not enough play.
Workers in the US receive less vacation time, on average, than their counterparts around the world. The European Union mandates a minimum of four weeks paid vacation for all employees. Canada and Japan have laws that require a minimum of two weeks vacation. While the US does not mandate paid time off, some employers are requiring their employees to take at least one to two weeks of time off each year.
While resources in the workplace may be stretched, particularly this year, consider the benefits of employees taking time off. Employees perform better when they are able to achieve a balance between work and life. Employees feel refreshed and energized after taking time to relax and refocus. Finally, employees value paid time off. By allowing them to take time away from work, companies can see an increase in employee engagement and motivation.
When the question is asked whether summer vacation is a friend or foe in the workplace, the answer comes down to an understanding between employers and employees. If the benefits of time off are understood and valued, and if the paid time off policies allow for the successful operation of the business during the summer, then vacation is absolutely a friend!
