For most of you, based on your responses, the dream of completely 100% leaving work behind when you go on vacation is just that — a dream.

Just about every response we received told us that if it’s absolutely, positively necessary, your workplace could get ahold of you if needed. You grumbled, but many of you agreed that you didn’t want your company to truly suffer just because you were taking a couple of weeks off.

It also seems that once you reach that upper-management level, many of you are expected to be able to be found whether you’re beaching in California, mountain climbing in Mexico, cruising the Autobahn in Germany, or fixing those leaky pipes in the basement. You are pretty much on call 24/7.

One of the typical responses we received from managers high on the Corporate Evolutionary Scale came from Brenda, a sales manager:

“Work on vacation? But of course, doesn’t everyone? Because my career is in the business of ‘every connection matters,’ communication is vital. As Customer Service and Sales Manager, my presence is not vital for a decision to be made, but my coaching is sometimes necessary.”

Feeling Overworked? Well, Work a Little Harder and It’ll Go Away!

Today’s corporate climate in the good old USA generally stinks.

Many organizations spent the last few years downsizing their workforce to the bare bones to cut costs, and the lucky people who kept their jobs found themselves doing the work of three, four, even five or more of their former coworkers. More work meant more responsibility, which led to more stress, which meant that taking a break from work became even more important.

Yet, most Americans can’t let go of work — even for just a few days.

A recent study* by the Families and Work Institute found that one-fourth of the study participants didn’t take all of the vacation they were entitled to because of the demands of their jobs. It’s no shock that over half of those people reported feeling extremely high levels of stress at their work — nearly twice as much as those who took all of their vacation time.

The study found that the more overworked employees feel, the more likely they are to:

• Make mistakes on the job
• Feel anger towards their employers for expecting them to do so much
• Resent coworkers who do not work as hard as they do
  
• Start looking for a new job with another employer

But that’s just on the job. On a personal level, these same people:

• Feel stronger conflicts in their work-life balance, with negative effects on both their families and work
• Feel less successful in life generally, and in their relationships with their spouse, partner, children and friends in particular
• Feel guilt over neglecting themselves
• Lose sleep because of their work
• Report problems with their health
• Lose more and more of their ability to cope with everyday life events

So How Do We Shake Ourselves Out Of The “Can’t Take No Vacation” Blues?

Hey, it’s 2004, not 1904 when sweatshops ruled the Industrial Revolution. Change for the better always starts at the top and the more enlightened organizations that are kicking some serious butt in today’s economy have rediscovered that happy employees are loyal and productive employees.

So today you’ll find that seriously successful companies will:

• Take sabbaticals from work that can last from a couple of weeks — to even a few months! The only rules are that sabbaticals cannot have a single thing to do with work. Managers and employees get complete 100% free time to write books, study foreign languages, travel abroad … whatever!
• Make managers, supervisors and top level executives take all of their vacation time to set an example for everyone else! Teach your staff how to do some of your more critical duties so you’re not required to stay in contact with the company 365 days a year.
• Develop positive cross-training processes both within departments and even between departments! Not only does that eliminate emergency situations where things shut down because “Marge in Payroll is the only one who knows how to work that software, and she just got hit by a bus!”, but it also invigorates employees who learn more skills and breaks down communication barriers between departments.

It’s time we start breaking the “working vacation” cycle. When it’s time for you to get away — you really need to GET AWAY! Just like some of our loyal readers who responded to last month’s question. Click here to read other responses.

*Statistics taken from the study, Feeling Overworked: When Work Becomes Too Much, copyright 2001, The Families And Work Institute, www.familiesandwork.org.

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Here’s some randomly selected responses from our readers:

Do you “stay in touch” or disappear off the face of the planet when you're on vacation?

“Work on vacation? But of course, doesn’t everyone? Because my career is in the business of ‘every connection matters’ communication is vital. As Customer Service and Sales Manager, my presence is not vital for a decision to be made, but my coaching is sometimes necessary.
Our chain of command is set up allowing CEOs to delegate to Middle Management and Middle Management to Assistants. Assistants can then delegate to Administration if necessary.

“If the decision requires an authoritative stamp of approval if I am on vacation, the problem is escalated to Upper Management. In case NO ONE can be reached inside the office, communication with me is available. Although I am not required to leave a number I usually do so I can be reached if necessary. It’s a way of life and frankly it’s OK with me and my family.”

Thanks,
Brenda

“I tend to disappear off the face of the planet, literally, when I’m on vacation. My vacations are spent snow mobiling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s nice because not many cell phones even work up there, and whether it’s on audio or vibrating mode, neither can be heard nor felt while riding a snowmobile! I try to let work just leave my mind so I can enjoy my vacation to the fullest.”

Joann W.

“As a first level supervisor my preparation for vacation (and most recently, medical leave) has been to delegate as many of my responsibilities to the people I supervise as is possible. I leave a contact number but don’t expect to hear from anyone. I think in terms of making myself replaceable.

“Vacation is meant for rest and renewal. A four-day weekend has that effect when I plan it well. Upon my return I’m able to bring a refreshed perspective to the daily challenges and large projects aren’t as intimidating. In two words, self-care. I feel better, I act better, I think better. My direct reports also have no illusions about what I actually do every day because they are all aware of who is picking up my responsibilities while I’m gone.”

Pat Q.

“When I’m on vacation — at home — or at lunch — I am non-existent. I have a life, and no job is that important unless it’s your own business.”

Margie H.

“If I’m taking vacation time and staying at home, I’ll check e-mail often, monitor the crisis level and make myself available though paging, cell phone, etc.

“If I’m taking a ‘real’ vacation, where I’m paying for a trip somewhere, I am UNAVAILABLE. I’ll choose a place where cell phones and pagers don’t work (rent a cabin in the mountains, national park, etc.). That way, even if they want me to leave contact information, they won’t be able to use it to contact me.

“I once took a trip to South America and my boss wanted me to leave an itinerary and phone numbers where I’d be staying. I was tempted to give him my opinion of that plan. Instead, I happily fulfilled his request because I knew there was no way on the planet that he’d be able to find me.

There’s always more than one way to achieve the same result. : )”

Thanks,
Toni A.

“I’m in the customer service business. Where I work we are taught from the first day that we are our most important customers. Our coworkers are our second most important customers and the people who pay for our services are our next most important customers. If an employee works through their breaks or works on their vacation they cannot be the charged up, healthy and happy individual who can blow away their customers with 21st century communication skills. If employees don’t get ample opportunity to recharge, their performance, attendance and attitudes will suffer. It is in everyone’s interest for employees to have sacrosanct downtime. Employees are happier. Customers are happier and the employer is more successful.

“If you think that you are indispensable, you’re fooling yourself. If you believe that getting this done is more important than taking your breaks or vacation, you are mistaken. Employees owe it to themselves, their family and their employer to bring a healthy, happy and well-rested person to the table. Attitude is so much in our business and there may be times when we have to fake our attitude because everyone has up and down days. Overworking yourself is handicapping yourself.

“I think a vacation is the time to unwind and relax. That way you come back to work refreshed and energized. I encourage all my employees to indicate on their voice-mail and e-mail that they are on vacation with no access and indicate who the inquiring party should contact in their stead. However, unless I am traveling abroad, I do not practice what I preach. I do check voice-mail and e-mail and sometimes bring reading materials with me. It’s a way for me to stay in the loop at work and get caught up on things I’ve let go too long in a relaxed way. It also has the benefit of returning to work without being bombarded with too many voice-mails and e-mails.”

Lisa R.

“People who take job-related work on their vacation need to get their priorities in order, or find a different job. They should ask themselves, ‘Is this work so important I will remember it 15 years from now?’ If they’re honest with themselves, they’ll say, ‘No.’ Life is too short to sweat what isn’t important.”

“I enjoy my work, and take articles I enjoy reading and didn't have time to read at work. However, I think vacations are to take a break and rest and relax and have fun and get away from work. Work can be so stressful that when we do allow ourselves a break we return refreshed and renewed. I also feel I am more productive and creative and companies should be encouraging vacation vs. discouraging them as many do. I think we should do as the Europeans do ... take 4 weeks at a time. Yet, since most of us do the work of several people it’s hard to allow someone that amount of time off. This country would benefit greatly from more vacation and that would result in less stress as a society.”

“Before on my vacation, I would bring work or all related work readings, check in although I didn’t need to, check my e-mail everyday, etc. But now I don’t do this anymore because I feel it's not worth to do this. Nobody recognizes nor appreciates what I’ve done and I’m doing. I feel like to go work because I need to support my family. I don’t feel to go to work because I love to do this job anymore.”

Diem O.

“I basically tell everyone that I am on vacation and will not be contacting anyone or returning any calls until I return. I try to also impress this type of vacation break to my staff. I let them know that nobody will die while they are gone and that the job will be here waiting for them. We try, as a team, to help the person on vacation by trying to keep their e-mails and phone messages current. We will help out with ongoing projects so that no one person will come back to an avalanche of work. That way they can relax entirely and enjoy themselves so that they return rested and re-energized."

Jeanne P.

“One of my most redeeming traits is my ability to leave work at the office. My 5-year-old doesn’t get as much of daddy’s attention as she deserves to begin with. Fortunately, I don’t bring it home. I have friends who do, and they can be unbearable at times.”

Dan S.

“I prepare for my vacation as I prepare for a big event. I prepare my customers (boss, colleagues, and others) that I will be away for a day or more. I train other people to take care of my work when I am not around for a day or more. My preparations are based on the principle that I am not indispensable. Why?

“It makes me free to attend an all-day workshop without problems. Take short mini-vacations. Makes me available for new projects or even better jobs. Of course my people will miss me and that’s great. However, I do not want to create an indispensable atmosphere that will make me a prisoner in my own created cell.”

Ilja K.

“How you handle staying in touch with the office on your vacation depends on your level of responsibility within the company. If you are a manager, you should by all means stay in touch with your employees. Your employees need to know you’re there for them, but also know that you are confident in their ability to handle things in your absence. A manager shouldn’t call them several times a day, but I feel should check in with them about twice in the week.

There should also be the understanding of what constitutes a true emergency and if a true one arises, they would be able to contact you. I would also say that if you are a manager and feel the need to call the office every hour or two, either you don’t have capable employees or you have not trained them to be capable employees. If you are not a manager, you should make arrangements before you leave for someone to cover the necessities of your job and leave it at that. However, it would be a good idea to leave a number to contact you if a dire emergency arises that directly affects you.”

“When I was hired, the CEO told me that I HAVE to take a full-hour lunch every day, no shortcut allowed.

“I apply this good rule to vacation, too. I stay in touch in two ways: I let my coworkers know at which airport I land, and I send a postcard from one of the places I visit.

“After my vacation, I bring a treat, pictures and sometimes I write an article about it in the newsletter.

“Do I disappear from the face of the earth? No.
“Do I work or think about work? No.
“Do I think of my coworkers? Yes and I am ready to share some of my vacation with them; sharing my work during vacation is out of the question.”

Jacques P.

“I don’t have to check in but am required to carry the cell phone. But that doesn’t mean I have to answer it ... that’s why voice mail was invented, too.”

Tanya S.

“I don’t disappear from the face of the earth – I can’t in case they need to check a meeting schedule or find out where something has been filed or put. However, my boss and the senior management are kind enough to only call me if it is absolutely necessary. I usually do a walk through with my CFO before I leave so she is familiar with where items are filed and what is going on. Plus, the Payroll assistant covers my phone for me and makes sure my boss gets his calls as needed.

“IIt takes a team effort, but things usually go rather smoothly, and I don’t end up feeling guilty while I am on vacation!”

Kelly D.

“Our office rule is if someone is bleeding or the building is burning, go ahead a ‘give me a call.’ In other words, make it important if Disneyworld must be interrupted. Since, we are all friends in our office, e-mails usually go back and forth just to let everyone back home know that all is well.”

Sharon C.