Workers Often Pack Flip-Flops and Laptops During Summer Getaways, CareerBuilder Survey Finds Enjoying Vacation Requires Workplace Planning
RESTON, Va., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- In a rough-and-tumble economy
demanding the highest levels of worker productivity, workers often find
themselves juggling work and fun during well-earned vacation time. Forty
percent of workers say they stay in touch with work when on vacation and 22
percent say their companies expect them to stay in contact, according to a new
CareerBuilder poll of more than 3,000 respondents.
"It's today's reality -- work often gets in the way of vacation fun in the
sun," said Kate Dawson, a career expert with CareerBuilder. "Managed properly,
nothing recharges the mind and body like a vacation -- a benefit for both
employers and employees. However, vacations can be a source of more stress if
time away isn't pre-planned."
Pleasure or Pressure?
For most workers, vacations are meaningful and beneficial breaks from
normal work routines. Ninety-nine percent said vacations help them relieve
stress and maintain good health. When returning to work from vacation, 51
percent said they are "re-energized and ready to get back to work." However,
22 percent say they are "depressed about the job and being back at work" and
14 percent say they return "daydreaming about the vacation and distracted from
work."
"While you're gone, deadlines continue to loom. It's vitally important to
tie up loose ends before you leave. That way you can completely enjoy your
vacation, without worries. That's the healthiest way to go on vacation."
On Vacation?
To minimize work interruptions and maximize opportunities for relaxation,
Dawson urges vacationing workers to:
* Give plenty of notice about vacation dates.
* Brainstorm with key team members and vendors for ways to handle any breakdowns, questions or issues that could arise while your out.
* Establish a single, reliable mode of communication -- e-mail, voicemail or cell phone, for example -- and make it clear when and how often you'll be checking in.
* Leave an emergency contact number if your job is mission critical.
* Minimize work distractions by establishing designated check-in times while on vacation.
"It's important to be a team player," Dawson said, "but it's also
essential to allow yourself to get completely away from work worries. The
best strategy is to leave for vacation with processes in place to handle
disruptions. That way, you won't have work doubts hanging over your head the
whole time your away."
Handy Tools
Wireless devices and voice mail have made it simple for workers and
employers to stay in touch during breaks. Workers say they are most likely to
use company voice mail (66 percent), work e-mail (54 percent) or via a cell
phone, pager or some other mobile device (47 percent).
"The trick is not to let communications devices open the floodgates that
will turn a vacation day into a regular workday," Dawson added. "Let people
know when you'll be checking e-mail or voice mail and establish times when you
will be available to minimize disruptions."
The CareerBuilder vacation poll was conducted during May 2001. A total of
3,263 respondents participated in the poll that was published in Career News,
CareerBuilder's monthly e-mail newsletter that is sent to more than one
million career-minded professionals each month.
About CareerBuilder, LLC
CareerBuilder, backed by media giants Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) and
Knight Ridder (NYSE: KRI) to create the most powerful career network on the
Web, is the leading provider of targeted Web recruiting. Through the
CareerBuilder Network, employers can post jobs to pinpoint exactly the right
candidates by location, industry or diversity. Job seekers can instantly
search more than 70 of the Internet's best career sites, in just a couple of
clicks. CareerBuilder also provides personalized career services and advice.
The CareerBuilder Network includes careerbuilder.com -- the flagship career
center -- and the career centers of premier destination sites including MSN,
Bloomberg.com, USA TODAY.com, iVillage.com and latimes.com, Philly.com,
chicagotribune.com and BayArea.com. Visit CareerBuilder at
http://www.careerbuilder.com.
CareerBuilder Media Contact
For all media inquiries and interview requests, contact:
Jennifer Grasz
(P) 773-527-1164
(E) jennifer.grasz@careerbuilder.com
