Creative Planning Tips Can Safeguard the Benefits
by Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs
As personal spending dips and workers take on extra duties and hours due to the recession, many Americans are scrapping vacations this year.
When asked how the recession has changed their 2009 vacation plans, 61% of Yahoo! HotJobs site visitors responded that they are not taking a vacation at all. An additional 7% said they are taking less vacation time this year.
The informal online poll, conducted in the second week of May with over 6,000 responses, includes participants who are unemployed.
Last year a similar survey found 51% of workers planning to forgo vacation. Common reasons for skipping vacation include financial concerns, lack of employment, or fear that a vacation might threaten one's job security.
Use It or Lose It?
The recession may also redefine vacation benefits for many workers. In March the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 17% of companies had reduced employee benefits in the prior six months. Of that group, 40% had cut back on paid vacation benefits.
In addition, some companies are forcing employees to take accrued vacation time this year as a cost saver.
"If workers take vacation, it's a way of saving on cash flow for the business," says Bob Cartwright, president and CEO of Intelligent Compensation, LLC, in Austin, Texas. "The message [from some employers] is basically, 'Take your earned vacation and get it off the books.'"
The practice also prevents employees from hoarding vacation time as a hedge in the event they lose their jobs, notes Cartwright, who is a member of the SHRM Compensation, Benefits, and Total Rewards Expertise Panel.
"I understand the fear behind the decision to not take vacation, however, I think it's a bad idea not to take a vacation at all," says Cali Yost, founder and CEO of Work+Life Fit, Inc. "We all need a break, especially in today's economic climate, where we are probably working harder in terms of more hours, or doing more work during our normal hours."
Creative Options
For people planning to skip vacation due to financial concerns, Yost says, "Some of the most relaxing vacations can involve not going away at all." Activities might include:
* Sleeping in.
* Borrowing from a library two or three books you've wanted to read.
* Cooking a meal or having a picnic with family or friends.
* Playing "tourist" in your home city, visiting museums or historic sites.
If uncertainty about job security is a worry for you, Yost says, "This isn't the time to book a three-week vacation."
She suggests taking vacation in smaller chunks, such as turning Friday or Monday breaks into long weekends, and planning breaks far enough in advance so there is plenty of coverage while you're away.
"Time away from the job -- even if it's simply time spent at home relaxing, reading, or puttering in the garden -- can be wonderfully refreshing and revitalizing," says Liz Bywater, president of the Bywater Consulting Group, which helps improve organizational performance. "People who take even a few days off at a time are likely to return to work with greater peace of mind, enhanced perspective, and improved ability to concentrate and make sound decisions."
Career Opportunity
by Tom Musbach, Yahoo! HotJobs
As personal spending dips and workers take on extra duties and hours due to the recession, many Americans are scrapping vacations this year.
When asked how the recession has changed their 2009 vacation plans, 61% of Yahoo! HotJobs site visitors responded that they are not taking a vacation at all. An additional 7% said they are taking less vacation time this year.
The informal online poll, conducted in the second week of May with over 6,000 responses, includes participants who are unemployed.
Last year a similar survey found 51% of workers planning to forgo vacation. Common reasons for skipping vacation include financial concerns, lack of employment, or fear that a vacation might threaten one's job security.
Use It or Lose It?
The recession may also redefine vacation benefits for many workers. In March the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that 17% of companies had reduced employee benefits in the prior six months. Of that group, 40% had cut back on paid vacation benefits.
In addition, some companies are forcing employees to take accrued vacation time this year as a cost saver.
"If workers take vacation, it's a way of saving on cash flow for the business," says Bob Cartwright, president and CEO of Intelligent Compensation, LLC, in Austin, Texas. "The message [from some employers] is basically, 'Take your earned vacation and get it off the books.'"
The practice also prevents employees from hoarding vacation time as a hedge in the event they lose their jobs, notes Cartwright, who is a member of the SHRM Compensation, Benefits, and Total Rewards Expertise Panel.
"I understand the fear behind the decision to not take vacation, however, I think it's a bad idea not to take a vacation at all," says Cali Yost, founder and CEO of Work+Life Fit, Inc. "We all need a break, especially in today's economic climate, where we are probably working harder in terms of more hours, or doing more work during our normal hours."
Creative Options
For people planning to skip vacation due to financial concerns, Yost says, "Some of the most relaxing vacations can involve not going away at all." Activities might include:
* Sleeping in.
* Borrowing from a library two or three books you've wanted to read.
* Cooking a meal or having a picnic with family or friends.
* Playing "tourist" in your home city, visiting museums or historic sites.
If uncertainty about job security is a worry for you, Yost says, "This isn't the time to book a three-week vacation."
She suggests taking vacation in smaller chunks, such as turning Friday or Monday breaks into long weekends, and planning breaks far enough in advance so there is plenty of coverage while you're away.
"Time away from the job -- even if it's simply time spent at home relaxing, reading, or puttering in the garden -- can be wonderfully refreshing and revitalizing," says Liz Bywater, president of the Bywater Consulting Group, which helps improve organizational performance. "People who take even a few days off at a time are likely to return to work with greater peace of mind, enhanced perspective, and improved ability to concentrate and make sound decisions."
Career Opportunity
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar