May 24th 2024.
Have you ever experienced the joy of taking a "quiet vacation" from work? It's a feeling like no other - signing off work with a simple out-of-office message, packing your bags and heading to the airport. The holiday vibes are here and they feel amazing.
But what if you have no more annual leave left? Or perhaps you have a boss who is very strict about when you can take time off? That's where the concept of "quiet vacationing" comes in.
According to a recent report commissioned by The Harris Poll, 37% of Millennial workers in the US have admitted to taking time off without informing their managers. The same study also found that a whopping 78% of American workers do not use up all of their annual leave. This could be due to a fear of being judged by their colleagues, strict company policies, or other reasons.
It's important to note that paid annual leave in the US is not as generous as it is in the UK. According to Forbes, the average private sector worker in the US only gets 11 days of paid holiday per year, which increases to 15 days after five years of service at one company. So it's not surprising that employees are finding ways to sneak in some much-needed time off.
But the UK is not a workplace paradise either. The law states that 9-5 workers must receive at least 28 days of paid annual leave each year. In fact, there are other countries with even more generous policies, such as Andorra, where the average annual leave balance is 45 days, and Malta, Estonia, and Iceland with 41, 39, and 38 days respectively.
As a global speaker on burnout prevention and wellbeing, Leanne Spencer explains to The Agency, "quiet vacationing" is a subtle way of taking time off without having to formally request annual leave. But why do we feel the need to hide our time off when we are legally entitled to it?
"It might also be taking time off under the guise of remote working, for example, and can include scheduling emails out of hours to appear busy, being present on calls or messaging platforms, moving the mouse to indicate activity but not actually being productive," Leanne adds.
So what is "quiet vacationing" really about? And why do we fear taking time off when we are legally entitled to it? According to Leanne, it could be a response to the "increasing mismatch" between the expectations of younger and older generations in terms of work-life balance and what is expected of employees in the workplace.
"Multi-generational teams have grown up with different expectations of what work-life balance is, and what they will and won't accept," Leanne explains. "Quiet vacationing is their compromise - they will do a certain amount of work, but from the beach or an Airbnb where they may also be vacationing."
However, "quiet vacationing" is not just a case of rebellious younger workers. For many, taking annual leave can be anxiety-inducing for various reasons, such as a judgmental boss or the fear of being seen as lazy.
Chloe Brotheridge, a hypnotherapist, coach, and expert on high-functioning anxiety, tells The Agency, "We live in a culture of presenteeism, where employees may feel under pressure to show up to work even when they are ill. Many feel that they must be 'seen' to be working late, even when they are not being productive."
But when it comes to work-life balance, it is crucial for employees to take time off to prevent burnout. So if you feel guilty about requesting time off, don't. As Leanne says, "Vacations are an opportunity to disconnect and recharge in a new setting, away from the demands of work and technology - it's an example of deliberate rest."
And if you have already used up all your annual leave, taking small, micro-breaks at work can also help reduce burnout. "Even smaller breaks from work can be incredibly effective; mini breaks, or what I call slivers of recovery, can be very effective. Taking as little as a few minutes can have a big effect on productivity," Leanne explains.
Communicating with your boss about taking annual leave can also be helpful in setting boundaries so that you can confidently take time off without feeling the need to sneak away quietly. "Have a conversation with your manager to let them know that you're taking leave and would like to prioritize rest and recovery to come back revitalized and recharged," Leanne advises.
"While the manager and company need to respect this, it's also up to us to put those boundaries in place and observe them," she adds. This can include implementing an out-of-office message, deleting work emails from your phone, and leaving your work laptop at home.
So the next time you have a holiday planned, enjoy it without any guilt or worries. And if you have a story about your "quiet vacationing" experience, we would love to hear it! Get in touch by emailing us.
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