All I want for Christmas is…Some Time Off! – The Importance of Annual Leave
2016 has been a whirlwind of a year. Events such as the Syrian refugee crisis, Brexit, terrorism, celebrity deaths, Olympic scandals to the recent US American Election, 2016 has been termed one of the worst years in history. However now that Christmas is approaching it is time to unwind and say goodbye to the crazy year that we survived. The year is ending and much of the workforce is preparing to go on annual leave. It is important to take time away from work and relax in order to maintain a healthy work life balance, and also to stay productive.
Of course a holiday is an enticing prospect. No matter how much you love your job, everyone loves to take time off once in a while. Whether that be a planned trip to a destination, or simply watching TV in bed, holidays are meant to be enjoyed. All employees are entitled to annual leave although the amount of entitlement varies based upon the individual employee agreements.
Annual leave has many benefits. It allows you to take time off work and return refreshed with a balanced perspective on life. In our digital world today it is increasingly harder to ‘switch off ‘ from work, and we often work more then 8 hours a days. This eventually takes a toll upon productivity as well as upon our motivation and creativity. Thus it is important to create a balance and at least once a year take annual leave and separate your personal and professional lives.
Many people are under the impression that they are too busy to take annual leave. The pressures of the workforce today are too demanding and often employees are reluctant to take time off, thus end up using little if any of their leave entitlement. This pressure to perform affects not only professional output but also personal lives such as family expectations. Employees who maintain a healthy work-life balance generally have happier lives compared to those that don’t. When taken regularly, annual leave also results in reduced stress, improved mood and extended life. In companies where annual leave is used regularly the morale is higher as well as individual and business productivity.
Workplace pressure is a big reason for depression and thus it is the responsibility of both the employer and employee to ensure that they take care of their own mental well-being. After all if the end goal is productivity, then it is in the benefit of both parties to realise that successful businesses are created from rested, motivated workers who are eager to apply their best efforts in their work as opposed to stressed, tired workers whose motivation is at breaking point due to the pressure of the workplace. Annual leave allows for workers to take well-deserved time off and results in overall productivity.
It is also important to consider the culture that we ourselves have created. We have bred a society where we expect people to work themselves to the ground. We are apprehensive to take time off because we fear we may be perceived as lazy, inefficient and unproductive. The workforce has become a highly competitive environment so inevitably workers are hesitant to take time off for fear for being replaceable. However this is damaging for the future. If this is the case right now, imagine how high the expectations will be for the coming generations. We need to create an environment where productivity is maintained but not at the cost of our personal lives and expense of our mental health. A successful workforce is one that is happy and motivated, and encouraging and taking annual leave is one way to achieve that.
In order to facilitate smooth transitions before and after annual leave, it is important to plan ahead. This applies to both employers and employees so both have a chance to be prepared whether it be in relation to arranging replacement or finishing off important tasks before the break. Although annual leave is an entitlement it is also courtesy to make sure that your break does not cause too much disruption. Annual leave should be encouraged in addition to other types of leave such as sick leave, parental leave etc in order to reduce stigma around taking time off. Taking time off applies to all levels of the workforce and it is important to make sure one is aware of their entitlements.
So with Christmas and New Years coming up, lets make a resolution to take care of one’s personal self in order to be efficient, productive and successful in one’s professional life. Take a break over the holidays, whether it is for one day or for a few weeks, and be re-energized for 2017.