Everyone needs a break from work. Yet as employees head into the holidays, many may feel pressure to stay connected, even if their leaders believe they shouldn’t be. That disconnect can contribute to workplace tension, says Virginia Tech organizational behavior expert Bill Becker. He explains why it happens, how to prevent mixed signals, and what workers can do before taking time off.
Like many workplace issues, the issue often stems from a lack of clarity in communication. “The problem with expectations is they are informal and employees tend to overestimate expectations and take their cues from their leaders and coworkers,” says Becker. That puts the onus on leadership to clearly delineate expectations before workers head out on leave.
“Employees who have time off should be able to completely detach from work and not worry about what happens when they are out,” says Becker. “It should be up to the leader to anticipate what information or work they need from the employee before they go on vacation.”
That being said, if there are important deadlines or meetings that are set to occur while an employee is out of the office, it is important for workers to let them know early to get on the same page ahead of time.
“If employees have important clients or customers, they should communicate with them before going on extended vacation and provide support ahead of time and arrange for alternate support if necessary or for unexpected needs,” says Becker.
Doing so isn’t just important for those relationships, but to be able to actually check out and enjoy your time off.
“Disconnecting from work is extremely important for employee well-being and quality of life. Even checking email during non-work time can be detrimental,” says Becker. “It is up to leaders to set clear expectations and enforce them — even saving employees from their own tendencies if necessary.”
Virginia Tech
