Name: Quiet vacationing.
Age: The phrase is a new one, the thing it describes less so.
I’m guessing it means going on holiday somewhere peaceful, not somewhere like Magaluf? You are guessing wrong. It means taking time off without telling your boss.
So pulling a sickie or bunking off? Kinda, though the motivation might be different.
Go on. In the US, millennials and generation Zs aren’t taking all their annual leave, even though they don’t get much of it over there. A new Harris poll found that 78% of American workers don’t take all their paid time off.
Why ever not? They fear looking like slackers, according to Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll.
But it’s important to recharge, isn’t it? The old work-life balance. Which is why they are doing it, they’re just not telling the boss. Younger workers, especially. Nearly 40% of millennials admitted to taking time off without letting their manager know.
I guess working from home makes that easier. This time you guessed right. Though some employees have admitted to a certain amount of deception in order to give the impression of work that isn’t actually happening.
Such as? Scheduling messages to be sent during work hours, or even outside of regular hours to give the impression that they are working overtime. And moving their computer mouse to show that they are active on the company’s messaging platforms when they are not actually working.
Cunning. But wouldn’t it be better if there was more trust and deception wasn’t necessary? Quite. Employers aren’t helping – 76% of workers said: “I wish my workplace culture placed a stronger emphasis on the value of taking regular breaks and utilising paid time off.”
Is it better in Europe? Workers in the EU are guaranteed at least 20 days of paid annual leave (and for now, at least, the EU’s Working Time Directive remains in place in the UK). Some countries – I won’t say which – pretty much shut down for the whole of Août.
Sounds healthy. Which is why many Americans say the US should lean towards the European model as it recognises boundaries between work and personal time. That said, a report in the UK found employees were “too busy” to take all their annual leave.
Maybe quiet vacationing is the answer then. Incidentally, you know we’re having this conversation on Zoom, right? Right.
And that it looks like you’re on the beach? Hahaha. It’s just a virtual background, I went for “tropical paradise”.
So how come that guy just gave you a piña colada, which you are now sipping? Er ... AI. Technology has come a long way, but the wifi here … I mean my wifi … is a bit sketchy. I’m losing the connection …
Do say: “Quiet vacationing is reflective of a toxic work culture.”
Don’t say: “Sunday? In the office? You betcha!”