Do Companies Punish Workers Who Take Vacations? 948
Hugh Pickens writes "Chad Brooks reports that a steady stream of research over the past year reveals that Americans aren't taking vacations and it's because they are afraid to take time off from work for fear of appearing less than dedicated to their employer with one survey showing that 70 percent of employees said they weren't using all their earned vacation days in 2011. 'You have this kind of fear of not wanting to be seen as a slacker,' says John de Graaf, executive director of Take Back Your Time, an organization focused on challenging the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine facing society. De Graaf adds that while some companies are good about encouraging employees to use earned time off, there also are some that aren't worried about the potential repercussions that may come from that nose-to-the-grindstone approach. 'They think, "If I burn someone out, I can always find someone else,"' says de Graaf. 'They think [employees] are expendable.' Even when they do take vacation, research shows many employees aren't leaving their work behind. In one study, 66 percent of surveyed employees said they would check and respond to email during their time off, and 29 percent expect to attend meetings virtually while on vacation. De Graaf is not optimistic anything will ever get done to free employees of their fear of taking time off. 'This is the only wealthy country in the world that does not guarantee any paid vacation time,' says de Graaf. 'Every other country understands that this makes people healthier and creates a better workforce.'"
Harddrive holocaust (Score:5, Funny)
Tell me about it.
The harddrive holocaust last year threw us into a great data-storage depression; Can't even get a 1TB drive for under $100.
Re:Frettin' over the grindstone (Score:2, Funny)
Then you don't have the right job.
Re:Yes. and its even worse. (Score:5, Funny)
hmm. isn't Corporate America is much more like this [imdb.com] nowadays:
Bob Slydell: You see, what we're actually trying to do here is, we're trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work... so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Bob Slydell: Great.
Peter Gibbons: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door - that way Lumbergh can't see me, heh heh - and, uh, after that I just sorta space out for about an hour.
Bob Porter: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I'm working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I'd say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
Re:If you enjoy your job, then why not? (Score:5, Funny)
I'd be way too busy travelling, chasing women and generally having fun.
In Powerball Lottery Winner, women chase you!
Re:Frettin' over the grindstone (Score:5, Funny)
Are you kidding? ShavedOrangutan is pure porn gold!
I can see it now: Tumescence of the Planet of the Apes
UR DOING IT WRONG (Score:5, Funny)
You are doing it wrong. If you win the powerball, you don't have to chase women, they chase you.
Re:Quoth the Expert... (Score:4, Funny)
I'm in the middle of a winter storm, you insensitive southern hemisphere clod!
Re:If you enjoy your job, then why not? (Score:2, Funny)
"(And if they do have kids my question is "why?")
Working those hours, I think the better question is "how"?