This boss is so serious about the importance of unplugging that he pays vacationing employees $750 not to glance at an email. Why?
In America, the average full-time employee works 47 hours per week; that's about 195 hours more per year than they worked in the 1970s. Furthermore, just over half don’t use their annual allotment of vacation days.
To help employees unwind and de-stress, the CEO at Acceleration Partners - an affiliate marketing consultancy - offers a $750 bonus to stay offline whilst on holiday. For three very good reasons:
One: Harvard Business Review found that employees who took more than 11 vacation days per year had a 30 percent higher chance of earning a raise or promotion. High performers take more vacation time. They can get their work done in less time, and they know that taking time to recharge is vital to being an A player.
Taking vacation time also makes employees more engaged and satisfied with their jobs. Managers recognize this. A survey from the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) found that 81 percent of managers notice that vacation time alleviates burnout.
Two: Many employees avoid taking their full vacation because they worry about leaving their colleagues stranded. People fear that either their team will feel overwhelmed without them, or that crucial projects will go off track. In reality, people who refuse to take time off aren’t saving their colleagues, they are often just avoiding delegation. Delegating is a tough skill to learn, but it is especially vital for people who lead teams. By encouraging your team to delegate important work during a vacation, you create a culture of trust and high expectations.
Three: Many employees think their company doesn’t want them to take their full vacation, worry their dedication will be questioned if they do, and believe they’ll have to stay fully accessible while they’re off.
What’s the point of offering a vacation package if people are afraid to use it? Businesses have a responsibility to make their employees feel comfortable and safe to take time off. It’s good for your team’s well-being, it’s good for your company health, and it teaches your entire team to step up in a top performer’s absence.