Evidence is piling up that vacations are good for business. Not only does taking vacation contribute to enhanced productivity but it also immunizes our teams against the toxic negative attitudes that can be contagious in the workplace. So if vacation has such a good ROI, why are people taking less and less of it? In one study, researchers found that employees fear that their manager will think less of them for taking vacation. Yup, they are blaming you (what’s new?). To change this worrisome trajectory, you need to get creative about how to get your team members to take vacation.
How to Get Your Team to Use Their Vacation Time
Make sure they know it’s okay.
August 04, 2017
Summary.
Research shows that vacations contribute to enhanced productivity. So why are people taking less of it? Many employees fear that their manager will think less of them for taking vacation. To change this worrisome trajectory, first make the business case. Use a few minutes in a team meeting to share some of the research on the benefits of vacation. Then keep track of how many vacation days employees have taken, and give periodic updates. Make it clear before employees leave that you don’t want them checking email or voicemail. Instead, save a list of things that came up during the vacation that you want to cover when your employee returns. Make missed vacation a subject for feedback and a topic in development discussions. And remember that you need to be a model for the use of real, full, disconnected vacations — because they’re good for you, for your team, and for your company.