The hidden costs of not taking time off

Rise and grind…

I work hard and play hard…

We have a hustle culture here…

If you recognize these mantras from your agency, there is a good chance you and your colleagues aren’t taking all your vacations, and you’re at serious risk of burnout.?

#agencylife often means working long hours, chasing titles and awards, never leaving first, and waiting until the boss goes home before calling it a day. Even if that means passing the time by covertly scrolling Insta or browsing LinkedIn Jobs and questioning how you got stuck here.?

Let’s stop it. It’s unhealthy. It’s hurting you and your company by not setting work limits and not using your vacation days.?

In Canada, estimates say we leave 31 million vacation days unused annually. The average Canadian has 17.3 days per year but is only taking 14.?

If you work in a busy agency, you’re looking at that 14 number with envy as we’re notorious for putting off vacations for several reasons.?

#Hustle #Culture:?We don’t take breaks; we don’t sleep. There are 168 hours in a week, and we need to maximize ALL of them.?

Fear:?That hustle culture leads to fear. A fear that we’re replaceable. The thought that if the CMO sees us taking time off while our colleagues are still grinding, we’re the weak link in the chain.?

The C-Suite:?Executives need time off too, but often extreme accountability in agency culture, they’re caught in the same hustle and fear cycle as their employees. The employees model their behaviour after the top dog, and the negative cycle continues.?

Lean and Mean:?Companies have been tightening budgets and increasing productivity. Fusing a skeleton staff and extreme accountability leaves people feeling too indispensable, and they’ll leave their teammates in a tough spot if they take their well-earned vacation.?

It’s unhealthy but far too familiar with marketing agencies—the damages caused by not taking time off hurt both the people and the company.

Health:?This is the number one reason; your physical and mental health is a risk by not giving your body and mind the requisite time to recharge.?

#burnout:?You love your job, but maybe you loved it too much. Now you’re feeling detached and increasingly cynical. You doubt your decisions and ability to perform your best. Now you risk losing your dream job.?

F This Attitude:?You used to like these people; they used to like you. Instead, everyone is stressed and in a bad mood. It’s given the office an edge that was never there before. You no longer look forward to working on a team project because no one is enjoying each other anymore.

The Work Suffers:?Everyone used to be creative, but lately, we’re mailing it in just to hit the deadline. Unfortunately, it hurts the agency’s reputation--that stink sticks when you’re looking for your next gig.

Working for Free:?Technically, you’re not working for free, but by not taking advantage of paid vacation, you’re leaving money in the company’s hands instead of in your pockets.?

It doesn’t need to be this way. Agencies can make changes to their culture because the benefits are worth it.?

Get Inspired:?As creatives, a change of scenery is a beautiful way to feel inspired. So, leave the office for the beach; you’ll be amazed at how many new ideas and designs emerge.?

Working Smarter:?You do better work when you’re refreshed and relaxed. More hours mean diminishing returns, so you’ll be able to do more top-tier work and still have time for yourself. We mean it.?

Next in line:?We all feel indispensable but leave the office, the work goes on, and it’s ok. It gives jr. staff a chance to take on more responsibility. And remember, if you want to move up in your career, you’ll need someone capable of filling the space behind you.?

It starts at the top:?The C-Suite needs to lead the culture change by setting a good example by working reasonable hours, taking time away from the office and working with HR to ensure their employees are taking all the vacation days they deserve.?

It’s time to change the culture. It’s time for agencies to put people above prestige by encouraging nay obliging their people to take time off and create a culture that promotes guilt-free time-outs.?

You’ve read this far and if you’re looking for a culture change, Merchant North is looking to add great people to our team of great people. Check our open positions, and if you don’t see the perfect role, send us your resume, and we may have something that fits.?