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During a recent Zoom meeting, the manager sensed something unusual. While most employees appeared stressed or tired, a few were tanned, joking, and very relaxed. He wondered if they might be on unapproved vacations.
The answer might be yes. Enter the era of "quiet vacations," where employees go on trips and attend virtual meetings without using any personal days. The secret? Clever use of video-meeting backgrounds to hide their actual locations.
The Quiet Vacation Trend
Resume Builder's recent data reveals that one in ten employees has already taken a quiet vacation, and 13% plan to do so this summer. Despite potential policy violations and managerial challenges, this practice is gaining traction. Leaders are notably concerned. “CEOs are unhappy about it,” notes Deepali Vyas, global head of the FinTech, Payments, and Crypto practice at Korn Ferry. “It gets messy fast when people are out of office but not taking paid time off.”
Productivity and Controversy
Return-to-office policies have yielded some success, with a 2.9% rise in US productivity over the past year. However, quiet vacationing remains a contentious issue. Vyas’ TikTok post on the topic attracted 1.5 million views, indicating widespread interest. The survey indicates that 43% of those trying quiet vacations have taken up to three days, while 15% have taken six or more days.
The Employer's Dilemma
Some employees argue that restrictive PTO approvals force them into quiet vacations, as companies have recently approved only half of PTO requests. Additionally, working remotely from desirable locations isn’t an issue for companies with flexible policies. “If it’s working remotely in a nice spot, and they’re meeting their objectives, no problem,” says Shanda Mints, vice president for RPO analytics and implementation at Korn Ferry. Critics, however, argue that many quiet vacationers attend meetings but do the minimum otherwise. Problems arise when such behavior forces employers to compromise. “If they’re taking an uncredited vacation and are not always available, that’s where the problems begin,” says HR expert Ron Porter, senior client partner at Korn Ferry.
Finding a Balance
Clear communication and defined expectations are crucial as quiet vacations grow in popularity. While this trend can be managed with proper guidelines, finding a balance that ensures productivity without compromising a well-deserved break is essential for both employers and employees.
To learn more about Quiet Vacations read this article by Korn Ferry. https://bit.ly/3KHR7YB
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