It’s hard to picture Ozzy Osbourne wading into the ocean, Dave Grohl tossing his flip-flops onto the
sand, or Gene Simmons visiting ancient architecture… but that doesn’t mean they don’t. Rock stars
know that to be their best on stage, they must have some downtime. The truly successful, no matter
what industry they’re in, understand that to work hard, you must play hard.
It may seem counterintuitive. After all, the more your employees work, the more they will get done,
right?
Wrong.
According to a 2012 article in the International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, recreation
influences employee performance and satisfaction. In fact, recreation “increases the level of
commitment, enhances bonding, and improves employee well-being with a consequent positive effect
on job satisfaction, service provision, customer satisfaction, and productivity.”
If you’re worried that vacation time will put a dent in your team’s productivity and performance this
summer, don’t be.
The Benefits of Vacation
No matter how much you love your job, taking a few days off to spend with family, relax on the beach,
or pursue an outside interest will actually make you better at what you do.
Taking time off improves:
1. Mental health
We all get stressed from time to time. Taking a few days to change your scenery, relax, and
recharge does wonders for your mental health. You’ll be less stressed, happier, and more
hopeful about the future.
2. Physical health
Even if the farthest you walk is from your chaise lounge to the ocean, vacations allow for
movement, healthy eating, and rest. All of these activities help your body fight off illness and
avoid excessive sick days.
3. Creativity
Have you ever noticed that the best ideas come to you in the shower, on walks, while playing
games, or in the middle of the night? That’s because being well-rested and focused on fun helps
our creativity flourish. A vacation is the perfect time to get your creative juices flowing.
4. Teamwork
It can be difficult spending day in and day out with the same people. Team members become a
second family… one that you aren’t required to love. A few days away from one another is a
great week to clean the slate and give people time to forget the small irritations that plague a
team.
5. Job Satisfaction
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Stepping away from the office and your list of
responsibilities will make it more pleasurable when you go back. Knowing that vacations and
self-care are a part of a company’s culture makes it easier for employees to enjoy what they do
and who they do it for. When they are happier, they are also more productive.
Vacations are not a luxury. They are a necessity!
How to Encourage Your Employees to Take Time Off
While their compensation plans may include paid time off, many employees are terrified to step away
from the office. Some are afraid they’ll fall behind in work and be worse off than when they left. Others
may fear that taking time off will be seen as a sign of disloyalty or a poor work ethic and worry they’ll be
replaced if they take time for themselves. Your job as their leader is to foster a culture where time off
the clock is just as important as time on the clock.
There are a number of ways you can do this:
1. Lead by example. If you never take time off and employees see you at your desk 7 days a week,
365 days a year, when they arrive for work and when they leave, they will (understandably)
believe that vacations are not condoned. Take time off and share your excitement when you do.
2. Cross-train your employees. If someone is gone for a week, they shouldn’t have to do two
weeks' worth of work when they return. Ensure other employees know how to pick up the slack
while they are away.
3. Close your doors for a week or more each year. Nothing says, “we value vacation” more than
creating a company-wide “holiday.” Is there a slow season for your business? Close up shop for
a few days or go down to a skeleton crew so employees can enjoy their time off. (Don’t forget to
give the skeleton crew their own vacation.)
4. Track vacation days to ensure that employees are taking time off. If an employee is not using
their time, have a conversation and see what’s standing in their way.
5. Offer incentives. Donuts in the breakroom may be delicious. However, instead of loading them
up with carbs for a job well-done, why not give away mini-vacations (and the extra time off to
take them) when employees meet or exceed goals?
No matter what tactics you use to encourage vacations, respect your employees’ time off. That means
no emailing, calling, or otherwise contacting them during this time. In order to truly decompress, people
need to completely step out of the environment and responsibilities.
Conclusion
Employee vacations don’t equate to work piling up, unhappy customers, and a lower bottom line. On
the contrary, when your employees (and you!) take time away from the office, you’ll actually turn up the
volume on happiness, productivity, and loyalty.
Put your away message up, pack your bags, and go vacation like a rock star. To learn more about
rockstar leadership, visit https://marvellessmark.com/.
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