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Vacation Deprivation
Consequences of the Workaholic Mindset
- 48% of Americans do not use all of their earned vacation time.
- Americans have fewer vacation days than most countries.
- Americans leave an average of 3 days per year unused.
In my appearance on a recent NBC Nightly News segment as their productivity expert, they dealt with the topic of vacation deprivation in the United States. Many times there is a lack of office organizing skills that underscore the problem.
The following expands on the issue to look at the causes, consequences, solutions, and results. Many times it is a lack of office organizng skills that
CAUSES
- Accelerated Lifestyle: Everything comes in so rapidly that we often feel overwhelmed. You are already behind in your work, and if you take time off, you will never catch up.
- Money Factors: Some complain about the lack of work/life balance, but given the chance to work on a holiday for extra money, many choose the money; or they prefer a payout at the end of the year for unused days.
- Addiction to Multitasking: Our accelerated lifestyle leads to non-stop multitasking, and we pump adrenaline all day long. We can become hooked on this speed and are also addicted to email and cell phone connections. There is actually a feeling of withdrawal when these are taken away.
- "Nobody Can Do My Job": You are too busy to stop and show others how to do something, yet if you took the time to instruct a subordinate or colleague, it could lessen your work load.
- "I Might Be Replaced": This lack of confidence makes you think that if the company finds out someone else can do your job, then they would not need you.
- Corporate Culture: You feel as if the manager or boss frowns on taking time off and that using all available time would show you were not committed to your job, leading to negative reviews.
CONSEQUENCES
- Higher Stress Levels: Feeling overworked leads to increased levels of stress, which can then cause chronic depression, disrupted sleep, and poor health. Stress accounts for 60-90 % of all illnesses.
- Less Productivity: You are speeding through each day, multitasking nonstop, yet getting less and less done. Being busy does not equate with being efficient.
- Captive Companies: A business can be considered held captive when there is only one employee who knows how to handle certain work. In an emergency, there is no alternative available and no procedural manual in place to help get through the gap.
- Mismanagement: If someone refuses to take time off, that can be a danger sign, especially in a financial area. Make sure all work is reviewed periodically by another set of eyes.
- Mini-Vacations: It can take two or three days to unwind, so if you only use 3-day weekends and take half-days here and there, you may never get to completely relax.
SOLUTIONS
- Create systems: Have a process for all of your work areas. It will give you a feeling of control and a procedure that you can easily explain to someone else who may have to cover for you. If you spend just half a day on setting up organized processes, you will have those organizing hours recovered in less than a week and will be working ahead the rest of the year.
- Be aware of stress: As a boss or manager, recognize warning signs and require that earned time be taken.
- Have written procedures: For every position, there should be an outline of needed steps so that the company does not suffer long-term from the absence of a key employee during emergencies.
RESULTS
- Lower stress levels
- New perspectives
- Renewed energy
- Increased productivity
Taking time off should be treated as a necessity in each year rather than as an inconvenience with good office organization. In addition to positive benefits for employees, it allows management to see where changes need to be made and improved processes put in place. You can count that as a "win-win" situation for all.
Thank you to everyone who responded to my previous newsletter where I announced my upcoming appearance on the NBC Nightly News and asked for your comments on why you had trouble finding time for vacations. I have included many of those remarks on my blog in several postings:
Pressure to Use Vacation Days: Comp Time
Vacation Time vs. Increasing Demands
Vacation Time vs. Intrusions of Technology
Vacation Time vs. Staying Current
Vacation Deprivation: Is It Our Choice?
Copyright © 2007 by Key Organization Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
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