Recently, The Center for Economic and Policy Research labeled the U.S. the No Vacation Nation. This doesn’t come as a big surprise as it’s a well-known fact that most Americans are workaholics.
Being dedicated and hard-working is of course a virtue that everyone should strive for; however, the last couple of years have shown us that burnout doesn’t actually lead to anything good. What is more, one’s physical as well as mental health is oftentimes compromised due to extremely long working hours and the absence of a real pause.
But that’s all about to change. Major company employers have come to realize that vacations are invaluable – not just in terms of personal rest but business growth as well.
Lack Of time Off Puts Everyone At Risk
According to a study conducted by The Families and Work Institute, employees who do not use up their vacation days are putting not only themselves, but the company they work for at risk. Overworking can lead to various health issues, including high blood pressure, strokes, and heart attacks.
Not to mention conditions that can affect one’s mental health – one of the most common being clinical depression and anxiety. As a result of these ailments, sick employees oftentimes negatively affect their company in more than one way.
Namely, the condition they are dealing with can raise the cost of health insurance; it can also lead to extra expenses that are related to training new employees in their absence. In other words, if employees neglect to take care of themselves from time to time, they are actually doing a major disservice by showing up to work to only stymie the process.
Bosses Truly Want The Best For Their Employees
In the 80s and 90s, working around the clock, maybe getting a couple of days off for Christmas and Thanksgiving was considered the norm. And there was of course the two weeks that many employees simply chose not to use up.
But what was more often than not overlooked is the fact that being overworked can actually lead to mishaps, errors, even serious workplace injuries, which in the long run is not good for the employee, the owner, or the company as a whole.
When injured on the job, however, in some cases, workers might be entitled to workplace compensation, but because each case is different, it is treated on an individual basis.
Nevertheless, bosses have come to realize that even the most hard-working and dedicated worker needs time off. What is more, they are making it a requirement in order to avoid workplace injuries and increase morale and productivity.
Relax, Renew, And Recharge
More and more businesses find that mandatory time off is the solution to combat and avoid exhaustion and other predicaments that can arise from being overworked. Motley Fool, which is a Virginia-based financial company, is one example that other major corporations in the nation look up to.
At Motley Fool, 250 of employees enter into drawing that’s held once a month. The person who wins, gets two weeks off – mandatory to weeks off.
“Having employees take time off from work to relax, renew, and recharge promotes a healthy work-life balance that ultimately results in higher productivity and employee retention. However, not every company’s mandatory employee time off policy must entail a two-week consecutive absence in order to be beneficial.” says Courtney Wolf of Corporate Wellness.
Short Breaks Are Beneficial As Well
While Motley Fool’s two weeks off sounds like a dream, many companies simply do not have the manpower to gift an employee a long time off. In such cases, half a work day, or 24 hours can be a good option. Some companies insist on skipping a Friday a month which can also lead to improved quality of life for the employee.
Why The Bosses Need A Breather, Too
Without a capable leader at the helm, the whole operation is bound to fail. Running a business is not an easy yoke to bear, and each endeavor is a delicate dance which needs to be led by someone who knows the steps and will navigate the operation in the right direction.
Obviously, this is impossible when a leader’s energy levels are low, his/her concentration is at the minimum, and simply put, they are exhausted. This is why company owners, along with their employees are taking a well-deserved vacation so that when it is time to go back to work, they can all deal with business efficiently and effectively.
In a way, forced vacations can be seen as a preventative step which can help avoid mental as well as physical ailments. It’s high time the corporate world embraced this trend, which is only expected to grow in popularity in the months and years to come.
