Vacations are needed to help employees reset and recharge.
But research from Ceridian found that many are still working on their vacation.
Here's how to nip that in the bud.
Share
Summer break is almost upon us.
Employees are starting to plan their vacations – and are actually finding it easier to book and take holiday because of their remote schedules.
A survey of 3,000 UK, US and Canadian employees by Ceridian found three-quarters found that their remote, hybrid and flexible working patterns made it easier for them to take vacation – this grew to 84% in the US.
They felt it made it easier for them to travel for longer (23%) and to go further away (22%), plus it meant they could flex on timings and book cheaper options (35%).
This is good news as employees are very aware of the benefits of taking time off (94%). The benefits are around mental health (75%, rising to 80% in the UK and 78% in Canada), physical health (49%, growing to 52% in the UK).
46% also said their productivity increased when they returned to work after holidays, while 40% said vacations helped increase their job satisfaction.
How to nip burnout in the bud
Ceridian’s vice-president of organizational effectiveness Michelle Bonam shares with UNLEASH: “It’s reassuring to see the ability to work remotely is making it easier for people to take time off, but it also makes it more difficult for employees to “switch off” whether they’re working or on vacation.
47% told Ceridian they struggled to disconnect completely while on holiday – this rose to 51% in the UK and 50% in Canada – and 14% said they checked in regularly, and 11% stayed fully connected to work while on vacation.
The problem is that they were too busy (17%), and they had no-one to cover while they were away on holiday (15%).
This is a real concern as employees are already burnt out, and without properly switching off while on holiday, they don’t have time to reset, and return to work recharged.
So, what’s the solution?
Bonam adds: “To mitigate burnout and prioritize the wellbeing of their staff, HR leaders should be moving their organizations towards a modern employee experience and flexible vacation strategy that encourages people to take time away in the manner that works best for them.”
The key here is “creating a culture that normalizes vacation, including flexible policies and leadership buy-in”.
Managers need to role-model that it is okay to disconnect while on vacation, as well as ensure that employees know that if there is an emergency, they will reach out directly, so workers don’t feel the need to keep checking in.
In addition, “HR leaders should be leveraging technology to monitor and track vacation time to ensure employees are getting enough time to recharge, before employees head down the path of burnout”, concludes Bonam.
Where the HR world meets. You can’t afford to miss out on UNLEASH World in Paris this October.
Sign up to the UNLEASH Newsletter
Get the Editor’s picks of the week delivered straight to your inbox!
