Sunday, December 16, 2012

Don't Feel the Squeeze - Be A Leader in Championing Vacation Time

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the US workforce no taking time off for vacation. Compared to other developed countries, we are close to the bottom in the number of days the average worker takes off for vacation. I think Japan is the lowest, shame on them. In a recent poll, the average American worker leaves 9.2 days of unused vacation a year on the table. At the same time profits are close to a 10 year all time high because workers are cramming in more hours. 

If you read all the articles on health and work life balance we should take off the allotted vacation each year to recharge our batteries , reconnect with friends and family. We do not profess that in business however, just the opposite. Your manager or supervisor will say, gee John/Mary we really need you that week because of a critical project or issue, or I cannot spare an additional worker to be out the same time as Mary/Tom. 

I say cut the crap, as HR leaders we should be the champion to encourage taking time off so our workers can be more productive, refreshed, and energized, not unproductive, tired and potentially mistake ridden because they fail to take time off. We need to take the lead on professing time off as well as doing it ourselves, if we truly want to act like leaders. I can honestly say I never did in my 30+ years in HR. I truly gave back vacation to the company every year but one in the last 25 years. How bad is that? The feeling is that the higher up you are the more important you are and therefore feel that you cannot afford to take the time off because of responsibility. Hogwash. if you died tomorrow I am sure the world would continue and you would probably be criticized for not taking more time off and criticized for working yourself to death. I know I felt that criticism from employees and family. 

So, HR, take the lead role in championing vacation time for employees and practice it yourself. Help employees to be strategic about managing their time off.