In the past, even the most dedicated employees cherished their vacation time and were careful to use up every last day before they expired. However, as millennials begin to dominate the workforce, this trend seems to be going out of style — and fast. Despite this young generation’s entitled reputation — or perhaps in an effort to overcome it — they’re passingly on once highly coveted paid time off.
Alamo Survey Highlights “Vacation Shame”
A 2016 survey commissioned by Alamo Rent A Car highlighted the “vacation shame” many millennials feel if they take time off from work. Defined as feeling shame or guilt from colleagues for taking a vacation, results revealed 59 percent of millennial employees felt bad about taking a vacation, compared with 41 percent of their 35 and older counterparts.
Not only do millennials feel guilty about enjoying a vacation, 42 percent also admitted to shaming their colleagues for taking their one, compared with 24 person of baby boomers and Gen Xers. Millennials tend to feel more remorse for taking a vacation than other generations, but the survey revealed a total of 47 percent of all workers are hesitant to use their days, either because their peers guilt them or their boss hassles them about it.
3 Ways to Make People Feel Comfortable Taking Vacation Days
Making people feel bad for taking vacation days they’ve rightfully earned is both wrong and unhealthy. Employees need time away from work to relax and if they don’t get, they’ll crash and burn.
- Gently Force Your Team to Take PTO. Help your team realize you want them to take vacation time by openly encouraging them to do so. We’re almost at the halfway point of the year, so check PTO balances and if an employee has yet to use any, remind them to do so.
- Grant as Many Requests as Possible. Millennials have enough shame about taking vacation in the first place, so if you tend to deny most of their requests, they’ll feel even more intimidated. You might not be able to grant every single PTO request, so when you have to say no, explain your reasoning and suggest an alternate date.
- Cross-Train Employees for Seamless Coverage. Many people are likely hesitant to step away for a few days, because they have responsibilities no one else knows how to handle. Make cross-training a priority, so there’s always someone capable waiting in the wings to take the reins when an employee wants a day off.
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