By: Kyle Emshwiller
As we reported in a previous HRSBT article, a recent CareerBuilder survey reported that 65 percent of full-time employees have taken or plan to take a vacation this year, down from 80 percent in 2007.
As we reported in a previous HRSBT article, a recent CareerBuilder survey reported that 65 percent of full-time employees have taken or plan to take a vacation this year, down from 80 percent in 2007.
The survey also found that employees who did take vacations had some issues separating completely from work. According to the results, three out of ten workers contact work during their vacation, and more than a third of managers (37 percent) say they expect their employees to check with work while on vacation.
This shouldn’t be the case, according to Bart Lorang, founding member of FullContact. In a recent blog post Lorang announced a new company policy, “Paid, Paid Vacation.”
What’s that? In addition to a minimum 15 days paid vacation (plus federal holidays), the company also gives each employee $7,500 to go on vacation!
The rules are just as surprising as the monetary incentive. There are three rules employees must follow:
- Employees have to go on vacation, or they don’t get the money.
- Employees must disconnect (that means work e-mail, social media, etc.).
- Employees can’t work while on vacation.
In his explanation of the new vacation policy, Lorang refers to disconnecting from the workplace as “going off the grid.” This phrase may frighten a few readers. However, he does offer interesting insight into how completely disconnecting could improve the company, including that the policy “might empower direct reports to make more decisions.”