The Conference Board recently surveyed Americans asking how many of them would take a vacation in the next six months. The results were shocking: only 39 percent (the lowest in 30 years) said they would dim the office lights, close the door and slip off to sip rum drinks in coconuts sometime in the next six months.
The outrageous gas prices and sluggish economy are contributing to the problem but there is more to the story. According to an article in SLATE, "everyone seems to be suffering from job creep" created by technology such as Blackberries and laptops that make workers accessible 24/7. This encroaches more and more on family time and adds even more stress to personal relationships.
Every other industrialized nation provides guaranteed sick leave to employees while Americans work more hours than any of our brethren in other countries.” Working long hours, getting less sleep and spending less time with your family and friends cause workers more stress. Stress translates into more sick time and more employees with depression and other emotional issues.
Sick and unmotivated employees don't perform well in the office and down the line, that additional sick leave will cost corporations millions of wasted dollars a year. You owe it to yourself and others: Carve out personal time for yourself and your employees and reduce the toll taken by the 24/7 work week.
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