Leaders are hesitant to take vacations - Executive Briefing - Brief Article

HR Magazine, May, 2003 by Steve Bates

U.S. executives plan to take less time off this year than last, citing the demands of their jobs and perhaps worried that they might appear to be nonessential, says Allen Salikof, president and CEO of Cleveland-based Management Recruiters International.

Of 730 executives who responded to the firm's survey, 47 percent said they won't use all the vacation time to which they are entitled this year, and 58 percent of that group cited the demands of their job.

"It's so, so difficult to walk away" from the office, even for a few days, says Salikof. "There's a sense in corporate America that this is the year to knuckle down and stay at your desk."

Part of the reason is that layoffs have left many managers doing the work of more than one person. But in addition, says Salikof, many executives are thinking: "I'm lucky to still have my job, so I want to make sure, if there is another round of layoffs, that I'm viewed as indispensable." One way to demonstrate your value as an employee "is showing your dedication to your desk Management notices when a worker shrugs off vacation days."

Yet all the pressures on executives make it more important than ever that they take time off, states Salikof. "It's good for an executive to get away every so often to recharge the batteries."

For those overworked executives who simply won't take a week or two off, he suggests scheduling three-and four-day weekends.