Disconnection becomes difficult as ‘quiet vacationing’ and vacation working blend together

The lines between work and leisure are increasingly blurred, as a new Harris Poll survey reveals that 78% of U.S. workers, particularly Gen Z and millennials, don't take all their paid time off (PTO). The pressure to meet deadlines and maintain productivity has led to a "quiet vacationing" trend, where employees take time off without communicating it to their managers. Nearly 4 in 10 millennials admit to this practice, along with other tactics like moving their mouse to appear active on company messaging platforms and scheduling messages outside of regular hours to give the impression of working overtime.

However, even when workers do take their allotted PTO, truly disconnecting from work proves challenging. The survey found that 60% of the American workforce struggles to fully disengage during their time off, with 86% checking emails from their boss and more than half taking work-related calls. This inability to unplug stems from a pervasive anxiety-ridden culture surrounding time off requests, as half of the respondents reported feeling nervous when asking for PTO.

• Read More: Will American workers have the 'right to disconnect'? Not in 2024. (Employee Benefits News)

To address this issue, experts suggest that employers must foster a supportive PTO system and culture. This can be achieved through transparent communication about requesting time off, normalizing the use of PTO by management, and implementing creative benefits such as company-wide shutdowns, pre-employment vacations, and mandatory quarterly time off. As the boundaries between work and personal life continue to erode, it is crucial for both organizations and individuals to prioritize disconnection and work-life balance to prevent burnout and improve overall well-being.