The Real Problem with Unlimited Vacation??

The Real Problem with Unlimited Vacation??

You'd think everyone would have the time of their lives with unlimited vacation policies! Employees can take as much time off as they want as long as they finish their work. Netflix was the first to introduce this, revolutionizing HR policies and TV viewing. Now, about 6% of companies in the US offer unlimited vacation.

How many holidays would you take if you had unlimited leave? ?? Try to guess how many people take off more days than they would have with a fixed entitlement. Only 27%! ??

It seems that:

  • Competitive organizational cultures ??
  • Unclear work requirements – so you never know if your work is done ?
  • Misguided loyalty ??
  • Old-fashioned guilt ??

...keep people chained to their laptops. ??

How to Holiday Like a European

Americans with an unlimited leave policy could take lessons from Europeans on how to holiday. Europeans tend to take holidays more slowly. Go to one place, explore the area, explore history, and relax. And the food and wine – going to markets to buy local food, trying local restaurants. ?????

It's not about bagging a brag-able bucket list but experiencing someone else's life. ??

I love it when we take a 2-week cycle tour. Real slow tourism:

  • No laptop ??
  • No car ??
  • No race to the next attraction ??
  • No shopping (except for food, of course, which you need a lot of if you've been cycling) ????

Everything is with us on our bikes, which is a little. There's a plan, but then there is the weather – rain and wind change plans. ?????

About 100 kilometres a day through small villages, experiencing the local food, culture, and history. Leaving behind the luxuries of "normal life" (though I admit I can't do without a shower after a day's cycling). ??♂?

So, remember to take all your holidays. Whether your style of holiday is luxury, leisurely, lively, or low-key, take time to slow down, experience life, and let great ideas wash over you. ??

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Natalie Boudou CPCC PCC

We support mid-senior leaders in achieving high performance by optimizing their personal health & equipping them w/coaching skills to unleash the potential of their team

6 个月

Really interesting article Jane Piper

回复
Josefine Wanner

Teaching Established Coaches LinkedIn Strategy that WORKS | LinkedIn Breakthrough | Designed To Sell | Former UBS & Big4 turned Entrepreneur

6 个月

We could *buy* an additional 2 weeks of holidays when I was at the Bank - which was great! BUT, I guess that *unlimited vacation* could be a bit of a stretch in a corporate environment. Depending on the team you're in, it all has to be synchronized with each other. Someone's gotta do the work while we're away. Unless we're self-employed of course - then there is no holiday at all ?? Love it Jane Piper

Gosia Tomaszów Reinhoudt

Global HR Business Leader - Trusted Advisor, Value Creator, Future of Work Advocate. Executive Sparring Partner. Certified Executive Coach, Mentor, Business Psychologist. Entrepreneur & Investor.

6 个月

Unlimited vacation is a theoretical concept and a practical contradiction in itself. Which manager is able to approve it or work with unpredictable resource allocation and deliver? From my experience, many US employers say they don’t really care about vacation policy, because people have to get the job done in the first place.

Nina Carola Stein

Kommunikation für die Karriere ?? in entscheidenden Gespr?chen souver?n auftreten & überzeugend kommunizieren

6 个月

Team slow traffic here. I no longer need the hustle and bustle, I prefer to savour the moment to the full. That's quality time for me.? And when I think back to my time in the corporate world, I would definitely have taken even LESS holiday back then than with a fixed quota... ??

Martin Coul

Measuring well-being, addressing stigma, and humanising data to bring a more compassionate voice to mental health & well-being at work, school & home | MHFA | Allegedly I cook THE best burger you’ll ever taste | ex Skype

6 个月

Unlimited vacation sounds amazing in theory Jane, but I’ve found that I actually prefer taking mini breaks throughout the year instead of one long summer holiday. Sometimes, those spontaneous weekend getaways are just what I need when my batteries are running low. It’s about finding the right balance and making time to truly disconnect and recharge.

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