Now that Memorial Day weekend has passed, the unofficial start to summer has commenced for Americans. While the summer months are great for enjoying the warmer weather, they are not conducive to seeking out a new job. Hiring managers, recruiters, human resources and other professionals involved in the hiring process go out of office, and while they’re gone, it’s hard for applicants to gain traction. The interview process drags on like a hot, sunny day.
Since the workload and office vibe begin to slow down, it may feel fine for some employees to engage in the newest trend of pretending to work—quiet vacationing.
In a recent survey by Harris Poll, nearly 40% of Millennial workers said they take time off without formally communicating it to their manager.
The respondents admitted to partaking in office workarounds, such as periodically moving their computer mouse to appear active, as well as scheduling messages to be sent outside of normal business hours to maintain the impression that they are going above and beyond for their employer by working overtime.
Why Workers Are Being Dishonest
The out-of-office study conducted by Harris Poll revealed that the current corporate culture around taking paid time off is what is prohibiting employees from utilizing their vacation days. Seventy-six percent of American workers expressed that they wished their employer placed a greater emphasis on the value of taking time off. Nearly 80% of Americans do not use their maximum amount of PTO, citing the “pressure to always be available” as the top reason.
Millennials and Gen-Z report fearing their managers’ reactions, as well as the implications the time off may have on their future career prospects, such as raises and promotions.
Forty-nine percent of American workers said they get nervous when requesting PTO from their employer, which prompts them to lie to their manager.
Sticking It To Your Boss
Quiet vacationing may seem appealing to professionals who feel burned out or undervalued in the workplace. It allows you the time to quietly recharge and potentially return with more focus and productivity.
It may also be perceived as a justified employee response to unhealthy work cultures. Similar to quiet quitting, Bare Minimum Mondays and other TikTok-influenced workplace trends, quiet vacationing reinforces the mentality and power struggle of “it’s us versus them.” It gives workers the illusion that you are reclaiming the upper hand. However, with this passive-aggressive behavior, everyone loses.
The company faces lost productivity, while your co-workers are forced to pick up the slack you left behind. Your failure to communicate your vacation time runs the risk of undermining trust with your employer, and you could face disciplinary action, such as getting fired.
Some Things To Consider Before Quiet Vacationing
If you’re uncomfortable asking for vacation days directly, consider having a conversation with your manager about your workload and stress levels.
If you feel burned out and need a break, check your employee handbook or with HR to see what the policy is on requesting paid time off. Can you realistically be unreachable while away? If you have critical deadlines or projects, quietly vacationing may not be the best idea. If you have an open and trusting relationship with your boss, you may be better off just being upfront about your vacation plans.
Let them know how you feel and ask about getting some time off to detox from work and practice self-care—with the idea of coming back refreshed and motivated. Since summertime is generally slow, it could be likely that your supervisor would grant you the time off.
If a change of scenery is what you need, you could also simply explore options for working remotely while you travel, and not have to worry about adverse ramifications. In a difficult job market, you want to avoid getting terminated and having to explain why you got fired in every future job interview. Your breach of trust will not reflect favorably on your candidacy.
Source: Forbes
