Black Friday a red flag for presenteeism
November 28, 2008 by Bill MeltzerPosted in: Absenteeism, Company culture, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Leave policies
The problem of presenteeism – workers showing up at work but taking a “mental vacation day” – isn’t going away any time soon.
A recent survey found the average employee has three unused vacation days at the end of the year. But 33% admit that they sometimes take “unofficial” vacation days of a half-day or more. Not surprisingly, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve day and December 26 rank among the highest “presentee” days among companies (especially in the white-collar realm) that remain open on those days.
In terms of the broader question of presenteeism, what’s keeping people from using their vacation time as it’s intended? Top answers:
- supervisors frown on employees taking vacation time
- there’s too much work to make up after using vacation time, and
- people want to “reserve” time in case of an emergency.
On the flip side, many folks who take vacation time have trouble leaving work behind. One employee in four admits to checking work e-mail and/or voicemail while on vacation.
And 29% say they have trouble forgetting about work-related stress, even when they’re using paid time off.
Among all industrialized nations, U.S. employees receive the fewest yearly vacation days – 14 on average.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
This is no recent phenomenon but has been happening for decades – likely longer. After special days and major holidays employees (both white AND blue collar) often slow down, talk with co-workers about the day, and suffer from a general malaise that comes during holiday seasons. It is part of the HUMAN side of being in business. How many white collar professionals use their business phone during the day to coordinate and address personal matters such as child-care, home repair and services, health care, and others? The answer is MOST!
Consider that the average white collar worker spends more waking hours with co-workers than with their own family. Consider that the same worker responds to email if not telephone calls in their “off” time. And also consider the number of single-parent homes, or homes where both spouses are employed full-time.
The only REAL concern management should be bothered by is if it becomes an every day event rather than the few Day-After-The-Holiday times.
U.S. white collar workers often put in 50-60 hour weeks, but life continues even though they are “at work!” Begrudge not the occasional slowdown – especially since the U.S. worker gets less and takes less vacation time than workers of any other country in the world!