The case for a break, even if you don’t know what to do with it
Summer in the GCC is usually a time for awaited annual leaves, travel and family reunions. Yet, 2020's canceled travel plans come followed by canceled personal time off (PTO). And as professionals worry about expenses, social distancing and the safety of travel, companies around the world and in the region worry about an upcoming explosion of pent-up vacation requests.
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“Vacations and time to detach from work at the weekend are important in enabling us to sustain performance, productivity, creativity and prevent burnout.” Simmy Grover, organizational psychology lecturer
Source: LinkedIn News Gulf poll
In the UAE, 40% of employers said they intend to allow staff to carry forward unused leave days to 2021 due to the Covid-19 situation, while 36% were unsure of how to handle all the unused PTO, according to a survey by global insurance brokerage Willis Towers Watson.
But what would I do with a vacation?
Pushing through the current situation and dreaming about a vacation after all this is over is where a lot of working professionals find themselves. With international travel still not accessible to/from most GCC cities, taking a vacation might seem like something you can push off to use later.
One option is to travel locally. When asked about whether they would book a vacation in UAE or neighboring Oman this summer, half of UAE respondents in the Social Distancing Survey by Time Out said they would definitely or likely book a staycation this summer. In Saudi, a survey by Almosafer revealed that 35% of Saudis prefer domestic travel after partial lifting of measures, with Jeddah and Makkah as top chosen destinations.
Source: LinkedIn News Gulf poll
Working from home = working more?
Companies are encouraging employees to take their vacations to avoid an end of year influx of vacation requests along with burnt out and stressed teams. It’s very hard to make the case that non-stop working is sustainable during a pandemic. Psychologists have expressed the importance of taking a break on employees’ productivity and mental balance, especially during stressful times. Globally, working from home is making professionals work more hours. The added stress can mean reminiscing about the office routine.
Frequently being on video calls, while a great way to connect with teams and carry the business remotely, can add to feelings of exhaustion and stress, as it puts missing real-time interactions under the spotlight.
However, 80% of UAE employees said they’d prefer to continue working from home in the future, according to a survey by staffing firm Robert Half. Reasons given were money and time saved and the convenience of no commute, and nearly half expressed they more productive working from home. While working from home has its appeal, Tommy Weir, author of “Leadership Dubai Style” argues that the cracks are starting to show and office life will win back the “new normal” again.
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Are you able to take a break from work at the moment? How are you encouraging your team to take some time off during this time? Join the conversation in the comments below, along with what you’d like to read about next using #ThatExpatLife
High skill work in gulf country in my work ,#my hard work for my Aim
4 年Nice
Experienced HR Professional with 7 years of experience in Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations in verticals from IT, Telecom, Healthcare. Has been involved in teaching also and passionate about it.
4 年Why taking a break is considered like going on a vacation and it's called a break....taking a break can be in simply terms moving out feeling the sunshine, water, nature and meeting new people , exploring new dish or taking a break from routine work
Training Manager | Talent Development | Building Skills, Confidence & Leadership Capabilities
4 年Salma Altantawy Prioritization is the headline of nowadays, everyone are not sure what’s tomorrow holding for them nor companies have a clear vision when things will start. Stay on hold for any recreational activities/plans and life needs come first.
Team Leader | Customer Service | Account Management | Relationship Management | Operations | Business Development | Sales | Hospitality | Aviation | Retail
4 年for overseas employees its a hard decision to make because those limited vacation days are the days that we can can go back home see our family and friends. So using it only to stay at home will feel like it's a waste on the other hand this period is a stressful one ane taking a break from all that seems to be a good idea.. really confusing..
CEO & Principal Consultant @ Black & Grey HR - Unleashing Talent Treasures with a Strategic Sizzle!
4 年Well, I would say be kind to yourself - take a break if you feel you are on survival mode. So that you can break free from the cycle of negativity and self-doubt, reclaim your confidence and take back control of your life - start thriving and be at the top of your game. Personally, I just need a cloudy day in Dubai summer to clear my mind...hope ;) We all persevere in our own way - our ability to continue despite difficulties is what makes us stronger.