Taking vacations is good for business. And we’re not just talking about you; we’re talking about your team as well.
A broad array of research shows that vacation time helps workers be more creative, engaged and productive. Time off helps fight burnout and has a host of health benefits. Yet people are taking less vacation then ever before.
Studies show that many people believe if they take a vacation, their managers and co-workers will think less of them. Many companies have cultures in which taking a sick day or all of your vacation time each year is considered selfish. It’s often a culture where employees are encouraged to come in even when they’re sick and to use less than the amount of vacation time they have accrued.The last thing you want is your team feeling this way, so you’ve got to get creative in your efforts to encourage vacation-taking behavior.
It’s important to be very clear with your team members that you expect them to take all of the vacation time they are allotted each year and fully unplug while they are taking time off. That means no emails, voice mails and other office communications. Work with your employees before their vacation begins so that if needed, work on their behalf is being done in their absence. No one wants to come back from vacation to a pile of work — or think about that during their vacation.
Lastly, be a good vacation-taking role model. Lead by example! Take your vacation time, too, and stop phoning in and checking e-mail during your time off.