Did you know that 47% of workers feel guilty if they don’t work on vacation?
Quiet vacations, quiet PTO, hushcations, workcations—whatever you call it, employees are struggling to find a healthy work-life balance. 96% of employees prefer to work for companies that prioritize well-being, but an unlimited PTO policy is not enough. Many organizations have noticed an uptick in quiet vacationing or quiet PTO, where employees go on vacation without disconnecting from work. Addressing the underlying issues causing employees to feel unable to disconnect is essential to building a healthy company culture.
Why Quiet Vacationing?
Fear of Falling Behind: A primary reason employees resort to quiet PTO is the fear of falling behind in their work. 49% of employees who don’t take their full PTO feel that stepping away from their tasks, even briefly, could result in an unmanageable backlog upon their return.
Concerns about Coworkers: 43% of workers who don’t take their full PTO cite concern about their coworkers’ workloads as a reason they feel they can’t take advantage of their time off. Whether they feel that their absence will burden colleagues or that their tasks will be managed inadequately, this lack of trust often stems from poorly designed processes and responsibilities within teams.
Inadequate PTO Culture: With 86% of employees receiving work-related notifications during vacation, it’s no surprise that taking PTO feels challenging. Companies that glorify constant availability, staying connected, and overworking are likely to find themselves with many employees taking quiet PTO.
How to Fix It
Promote Clear Policies: Address employees’ fear of falling behind with clear, supportive PTO policies. Communicate the importance of time off and ensure employees are not penalized for taking it. Establish a culture where PTO is viewed as a necessary component of productivity to help employees feel secure in fully disconnecting.
Improve Delegation Practices: Improve delegation and team dynamics by encouraging open communication and clearly defining roles and responsibilities. Provide training on effective delegation and put backup plans into place so employees are assured their workload will be managed.
Reinforce PTO Culture: When leaders prioritize their own PTO and demonstrate the benefits of unplugging, it sets a precedent for the organization. Regular reminders, celebrating employees who take time off, and emphasizing the long-term benefits of healthy teams can shift an organization’s mindset.
Don’t let your employees sacrifice their work-life balance! Whether you need a team to manage your payroll so your employees can take time off, want to teach your employees to delegate, or need help instituting PTO policies, PuzzleHR has the solution for you! Contact us today to learn more.
