Taking time off is more important than you might think.
- The economy loses tons of revenue and job opportunities. A 2017 study showed that Americans gave up 212 million paid time off days– which added up to $62.2 billion in lost benefits. In turn, the economy missed $255 billion in revenue opportunity, which could have generated 1.9 million new jobs.
- Companies experience less retention, which negatively impacts their bottom line. One of the top reasons employees leave a company is because of its limited time off or lack of respect for work-life boundaries. And it costs those companies big. It takes 6-9 months of an employee’s salary to replace them, and for an employee making $60k a year, companies pay $30k-$40k in recruiting, training, and other costs.
- Employees experience serious mental and physical side effects. Overworked employees are at a high risk of incident strokes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and more. Working too much also directly impacts productivity– making employees less focused, less creative, and less efficient. And with CEO’s rating creativity as the #1 most important trait for incoming employees, more recharge time could help ensure we don’t face a “creativity crisis.”
4 easy ways that managers and employers can solve the PTO problem.
1. Remove the anxiety.
Create coverage plan strategies to empower employees to take PTO.
Many people dodge PTO because of a fear of falling behind. One way to encourage employees to take time off is to help them prepare for it.
By sharing resources like this work coverage plan template, employees can plot their absence and not stress about returning to a massive workload.
2. Make it mandatory.
Implement a minimum PTO use policy.
Even old school companies like Goldman Sachs are adapting this approach– requiring every employee to take at least three weeks off. And managers at Chatbooks– which has a similar policy– report that employees come back from vacation with more ideas for designs and overall increased creativity and energy.
And don’t forget to walk the walk. Managers should model time-off behavior (no after-hour or vacation emails, using up PTO, etc.), provide clarity on PTO policies, and demonstrate care for your employees’ well-being. I’ll never, ever forget when my first manager (shout out to Tom Fitch) who graciously allowed me to extend my life-changing trip to Africa. He demonstrated how much he valued me and supported my well-being. To date, he is still my best manager, and we went on to work together at 3 other companies!
3. Keep it fun.
Share OOOs that are inspirational and funny.
Out of office messages don’t have to be a necessary evil. Instead, use it as a way to promote your positive work culture and support your employees.
This is an easy way to flip the script that being OOO is actually NOT taboo. Share these fun and inspirational OOO messages from Hubspot and Grammarly to help employees (and yourself) think about what is possible.
4. Send a friendly nudge.
Email employees with PTO balances + share PTO ideas to give them extra motivation to unplug.
For the Budgeter
There are lots of resources for traveling more economically. Our personal favorites are Kara + Nate’s Daily Drop newsletter for getting free flights and more, The Points Guy’s tips for maximizing travel with your points and miles, and Your Rich Bff’s bite-able lessons on financial literacy and lifestyle.
For the Family
Having kids doesn’t have to cramp your style. Sure it won’t be quite the same, but you can still be bold and adventurous or have a great staycation, if that’s your thing. For tales of hilarity, delight and despair, grab a copy of the book “How to Fit a Car Seat on a Camel.” (Hint: this makes a great gift for new parents too!)
For the Homebody
Home doesn’t have to mean boring. Consider Home Swap– a site to swap your home for someone else’s– or Harvest Host (instead of a parking lot for your van think of an alpaca farm run by nuns in Kansas City.) We haven’t personally used these sites, but we’ve read good things.
For the Splurger
Indulge on a luxurious, fully-furnished rental. One of our favorites is Minty Living‘s long- and short-term stays in Atlanta. They create statement spaces that are packed with charm and character, but still have all the comforts of home. You can count on them for a ”gram-able” decor moment as well as a great night”s sleep. Check out this beauty as just one example!