Escaping the American vacation crisis

There's no rest for the wicked -- or the virtuous, either. In the world of business, we're all strictly business, which leaves little time for vacation.

Half of America's workers are in "vacation crisis," according to a recent survey by Universal Orlando Resorts. About half of us forfeit an average of eight vacation days a year.

"Can you imagine your reaction if you were told in a job interview that you were expected to work eight days each year for free?" said Tom Williams, chairman and CEO of Universal Parks and Resorts in a press release announcing the survey results. "Yet that's what about half of the American workforce is doing. Ultimately, though, it's not just about whether you're taking full advantage of your compensation and benefits. It's about whether you're taking full advantage of life."

The decline in vacation time is tied to job insecurity and downsizing. Both have created work environments where employees are fearful of reprisals and think that taking vacation will only create more of a work burden when they return to their jobs, after taking time off. Some companies foster environments where workers who curtail time off are the first considered for promotions and those who use the vacation time are put on the slow track for job advancement.

In addition, because technology has made it so easy to stay in touch by cell phone, personal digital assistants and e-mail, it can be difficult to jettison the electronic ties that bind and take a real vacation instead of bringing work with you when you're on the beach or visiting the Grand Canyon.

According to a recent poll by Hudson, a professional staffing firm, 23 percent of vacationing workers check in with their offices. That percentage rises to 38 percent for managers.

The Universal Orlando Resort's survey confirms what other surveys are telling us. VitalSmarts, a management consulting firm in Provo, Utah, found that one third of its survey respondents said their work-to-life balance was "poor" to "very poor."

While scheduling vacation can be challenging, it can and should be done. Taking time off will reinvigorate you and make you more productive.

Escaping the all-work-no-play syndrome
Frame the conversation correctly. "Don't just talk about the time off you want," says Joseph Grenny, president of VitalSmarts and co-author of "Crucial Conversations." Be candid about how much you want and need some time off. Be careful not to understate your case. "If you fail to express your wants candidly, you are part of the problem."