Now that the holidays are just around the corner, people are planning family vacations and work breaks left and right. Workers are eager to take a much-needed break from the stress and bustle of everyday work. In such cases, requesting time off in advance has been the norm. However, there are cases where employees seem to be “quiet vacationing” or “hush-cationing.”
Quiet vacationing refers to the practice of taking time off work without notifying anyone in the office. In this situation, the employee may or may not show up for work. It commonly happens in a remote work setting, wherein workers do not need to physically interact with or be monitored by others. Someone “quiet vacationing” may log in but does little to no work throughout their shift. However, there are also instances wherein they get the job done while being on vacation simultaneously.
Denied PTO or leave
Some employees resort to quiet vacationing because they were denied paid time off. Others who are willing to take unpaid leave but aren’t permitted to do so also resort to quiet vacationing. Since the request is denied, they feel like they have no choice but to resort to such action. Denying time off could result in negative feelings toward an employer and may lead to poor employee performance in the future.
Other employees, especially newly hired ones, are often afraid or embarrassed to ask for time off. Some workers also feel guilty when taking vacation leave. They become either anxious about the work that’ll pile up during their vacation or feel guilty about leaving their teammates to do the extra work.
Lack of work-life balance
Pressure and a high level of stress can also be one of the reasons why employees take a quiet vacation. When the volume of work becomes overwhelming and there is no option to take a break, employees may feel burnt out. Organizations that are undergoing a significant development or change may ask for employee overtime, which may potentially blur the lines between work and rest.
Combat quiet vacationing
Quiet vacationing may harm the organization and the employees’ well-being and relationships with co-workers. This practice may lead to strained relationships and a bad reputation in the workplace. The water is still murky regarding quiet vacationing’s exact definition and what it entails. The confusion is understandable, as all organizations have different rules and work setups. However, what’s certain is that professionalism and good communication are cores in building mutual trust and respect between both parties.
Workers are entitled to take time off work, regardless of their reasons. Showing support for their employees’ mental health struggles will also lessen the likelihood of a quiet vacation. Promoting a work-life balance in the organization will benefit both the company and its employees. In return, informing the organization is also a worker’s duty. Benefits given to workers should be appreciated and not abused as well.
Photo Credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Johnny Chen.
