Tag: VACATION

Should You Encourage Workcations?

It’s long been known that U.S. workers take fewer vacation days than their international counterparts. Fewer vacation days are typically offered by U.S. employers, and of those offered, many go unused. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the U.S. work culture in which employees often fear falling behind or […]

Value vacation in 2017

by Dinita L. James In this digital age, I keep a paper calendar. It’s a letter-size one with a black cover and tabs for each month that folds open to display a full week, with appointment time slots under each day. I know I could set up Outlook to display the digital calendar I also […]

Employees Want More PTO, But Unlikely to Use It for Summer Vacations

According to a recent survey released by Namely, attitudes toward summer vacation are shifting under the demands of the modern workplace and growing Millennial influence. While employees are willing to make big sacrifices for more paid time off (PTO), they are unlikely to use it and look for employers to support time off in different […]

Vacation season—a time to relax and recharge or a time to keep on working?

Summer—traditionally a time when workers schedule time off and plan trips to exotic or relaxing locales—may have entered a new era. It’s an era of contradictions: As some studies show workers value generous paid time off policies, others indicate that employees are increasingly willing to leave their hard-earned time off on the table.  Some workers […]

Colorado’s new use-it-or-lose-it vacation policy sparks questions

The Colorado Division of Labor has taken a new position on enforcing wage claims based on an employer’s vacation policy, and the position is leaving employers with questions about whether use-it-or-lose-it vacation policies are lawful in the state. In response to inquiries about whether policies that prohibit employees from rolling over some or all earned […]

North Dakota eases PTO payout rules

by Lisa Edison-Smith Because of new legislation taking effect August 1, private-sector employers in North Dakota will find it easier to avoid paying out unused paid time off (PTO) or vacation time when employees quit. Under the old law, an employer was required to pay a departing employee for any PTO or vacation time that […]

Unlimited vacation policies—good idea or license to slack?

by Michael Futterman and Jaime Touchstone Employers have long used paid vacation policies as a compensation benefit and a means of enhancing employee productivity. To keep pace in a competitive hiring market, many start-ups offer employees the right to take “unlimited” paid vacation. While “unlimited vacation” policies do offer certain benefits, the law on such […]

WFH

Going on vacation? Try your best to disconnect from work

by Dan Oswald Remember the old Eveready battery commercial with Robert Conrad in a muscle shirt playing the tough guy? He had an Eveready battery sitting on his shoulder while he muttered the line, “I dare you to knock this off.” I’m not sure why he was daring anyone to knock the battery off his […]

‘Tis the season: resolutions for the new year

by Leslie Bakken Oliver It’s that time again, when many of us take inventory of the past year and make resolutions for the coming year—for example, to do better, work smarter, become more efficient, or waste less time. For some of you, focusing on aspirations for the coming year may be part of a formalized […]