Working on vacation, vacationing at work

Sand in your keyboard? Trying to join a Zoom call from a noisy cocktail bar? Those are just two of the dangers of answering work emails while you're on holiday. But could improved mobile technology and the new "work-from-anywhere" culture be the slow death of holidays?

The American English term "vacation" comes from the Latin vacare, meaning "to be unoccupied", while "holiday" combines the words "holy" and "day", signalling that some things are more important than work. For decades, the clear distinction between work and play has defined the rhythm of life, but changes in the workplace increasingly call that binary model into question — at least among white-collar workers.

For some, combining work and travel might be a lifestyle choice, but their co-workers may feel pressure to log in while on holiday, perhaps because of anxiety or the fear of missing out (FOMO). Others might just want to reduce the pile of work that's waiting for them when they return, or possibly even extend their holiday by working remotely.

Who's on holiday?

According to a 2023 study by the +Pew Research Center, 55 per cent of American employees report working (at least sometimes) while taking paid time off (PTO). This may have to do with the fact that PTO is not integrated into American work culture as it is in many other countries. The US doesn't mandate a single day of paid annual leave — and almost a third of Americans get no paid time off.

Of course, many US employers offer workers PTO as a benefit, but even then, employees regularly fail to take all the holiday they're entitled to. The Pew study also found that almost half of US workers typically take less vacation than they're allowed, mainly because they don't feel they need to, but sometimes, because of a fear of being unable to stay on top of work demands or of overburdening their colleagues through their absence.

Policies and regulations about PTO often reflect general attitudes to work. India gives its workers 15 days of annual leave, while China's workers can expect five days of annual leave after having worked for one to ten years. That number then slowly increases, to a maximum of 15 days, based on the length of their working life. EU countries, on the other hand, stipulate that employees get a minimum of 20 working days of paid annual leave — and many of them get a lot more than that.

Generational differences also play a role. A recent Randstad report found that 52 per cent of millennials felt obliged to check their work emails when they were not at work. "Gen Y was born into the era of technology and, as a group, is more comfortable than baby boomers or Gen X with being constantly connected in both their work and personal lives," said Jim Link, chief HR officer at Randstad North America. "As Gen Y and incoming Gen Z employees populate the workforce, companies will need to create protocols that thoughtfully address work/life boundaries to meet both organizational goals and employee needs and tendencies."

Rethink the working day?

If work is going to encroach upon holiday time, perhaps more free time should be incorporated into the normal working day. Could giving employees the chance to switch off and read a book for an hour, for example, or go for a jog in the middle of the working day help people find the form of time management that's right for them?

According to Robert Poynton, author of Do Pause: You Are Not a To Do List: "Our coping mechanisms are meditation apps, weekend breaks and annual holidays, but things soon revert. To prosper, we need a more sustainable approach — an ability to pause." The idea is that if non-work-related activities, like housework or gym classes, happen in traditional working hours, employees can refresh their concentration multiple times during the day and avoid feeling run down in the first place.

Taking time off, in whatever form, is ultimately the art of slowing down in order to increase productivity. In her book The Healing Power of Pleasure, Julia Paulette Hollenbery writes: "Decide that work does not have to be hard work before collapse or reward. Work itself can be fun and enjoyable. And you don't have to pause only at work. You can productively pause any time, anywhere, with anyone — and reap the benefits."

Seen this way, time off is a planned part of your day. Hollenbery talks of the power of pausing before a meeting or phone call, which she calls a "mini-meditation", to make your day less strenuous and more enjoyable. Depending on the demands of their job and personal life, a task-based approach can allow work to be done at more convenient and productive times, giving workers the flexibility to manage their own work-life balance.

A personal decision

Of course, some workers still prefer a clear boundary between work and time off. Protecting that boundary requires clear communication. Follow these steps if you'd rather be left alone while on holiday:

• Write an out-of-office message that clearly states your intent.
• Use separate devices for work-related and private communication.
• Prepare a checklist of tasks that you were working on before you go away to help you remember when you return to work.
• Create a "foolproof" briefing for your co-workers, so there can be no possible reason to ask you anything while you're away.
• Don't give in to demanding colleagues — you're on holiday!

Managers should be aware that employees who prefer to separate work and time off may feel threatened by those who choose to work while on holiday. Some companies have strict guidelines on the right to disconnect outside office hours — in some cases, these are required by law. At the same time, employers needn't feel threatened by the rise in worker autonomy. One-size-fits-all solutions generally don't fit all, and more flexible working models offer benefits all round.