What is quiet vacationing
What is quiet vacationing and why it might not be a great idea.
Apparently there is a new trend emerging amongst ‘millennials’ and employers aren’t too happy about it.
The term refers to taking time off without your employer actually being aware. The term first emerged last year in the US, which famously has significantly less annual leave than the UK. Latest figures suggest on average US employees have 10 days of annual leave (often referred to as PTO) compared to 28 in the UK.
The idea of quiet vacationing is that an employee heads away on holiday and whilst away they log in just enough to give the impression that they are still working.
When looking at the reasons behind this, respondents said they weren’t taking annual leave as there was a pressure to be present. Presenteeism can be a red flag for a company culture and should prompt further questions about why you feel you are not able to take annual leave. This is vital for your wellbeing, and ultimately productivity in the workplace.
Whilst this phenomenon seems to be more common in the US there is evidence that it has crossed the pond into UK based organisations.
As an employee this is a very risky strategy not only are there potential tax implications from working overseas, the risk of getting caught from an misjudged photograph or social media post and ultimately disciplinary action for being in breach of your employment contract.
From an employer’s perspective it’s important to reflect on how you are supporting and training your managers. They should have sufficient oversight, contact and understanding of their teams to be able to identify those who are ‘quietly vacationing’. And understanding of why this is happening.
Ultimately, quiet vacationing will not provide you with the rest and recovery time that you are seeking. When taking time off from work, it is important to find a way to completely switch off from work and recover. This will lead you to being more productive and engaged when you return.
Personally, we wouldn’t recommend quiet vacationing, instead focus on keeping an open dialogue with your employer about your workload, maintain healthy boundaries between work and home and lastly ensure that you are managing your own wellbeing in the workplace.