Shawnee Love   •  
August 3, 2011

Although across Canada and the US, there are numerous differences relating the minimum standards of how vacation must be handled, this blog is my opinion on how vacations should be handled.

Vacation should:

1. Be a requirement for every employee every year. Employees should only be able to put off taking a vacation in any given year, if they want to use up their banked vacation the following year (e.g., for a great trip). I would mandate vacation because people need a break to restore their energy and an extended period away from work stimulates the creative juices.  Furthermore, I have noticed that employees can work for about 2 years without vacation before the reduction in performance become noticeable and other signs of burnout arise, such as attendance problems, attitude and mood swings, conflict amongst colleagues, etc.
2. Not be paid out (i.e., in lieu of taking time off) unless the circumstances require a payout (e.g., when the employee quits).  Otherwise, it is a manager’s job to remind and even force an employee take vacation if the employee “forgets” to ask for it.  I know, many employees are tight for money and would prefer to be paid out, but again, I go back to # 1.  Taking  time away from work makes for healthier employees and better productivity which is good for the employee and employer.
3. Be taken in blocks of a week or more at a time.  Although companies should be flexible to accommodate an employee’s need to take a day here and there (e.g., if child care is a challenge or personal appointments need to be attended), anything less than a week off work doesn’t have the restorative effects needed to feel like a break.
4. Not be a burden to the employee.  We all know of people who work 80 hrs a week leading up to their vacations and 100 hrs a week upon return, leaving them more exhausted than if they hadn’t ever contemplated time off.  Don’t punish your employee for taking time off by letting the work pile up.
5. Be free of work cell phones and computers. Most of us aren’t so important that we can’t be offline for awhile.  My cynical side says people who “have to stay connected” have difficulty with planning and/or control issues more so than any actual critical responsibilities that can’t be delegated.  In any case, it isn’t a break if you are checking your messages all the time.   See #1.

That’s just my take after a wonderful holiday which left me inspired and raring to go.  Do you agree? Disagree?  Have something to add?