The Importance of Switching Off When You Are on Leave
Recently, something happened in our office that really made us stop and think.
One of our clients was interviewing a candidate for a position, and naturally, the candidate was keen to receive feedback right away. However, the Team Manager was away on holiday. Now, the client could easily have sent an email to the manager asking for some quick feedback, but instead, she informed us to advise the candidate that they’d have to wait: “"I’m not the sort of person who disturbs someone’s well-deserved holiday!"
If you were that candidate, what would you think about the culture of this company? We’d like to think that it shows genuine respect for people’s personal time and is a great example of leading from the top. (Incidentally the candidate did think this. Has since joined the company and is making a positive impact!).
It’s very easy to continue to be online and contactable when you should be just the opposite when taking time off. But then, is that truly time off? In 2020/21, stress, depression and anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health cases. It’s so important to switch off when you’re not at work. Constantly checking emails or worrying about tasks harms your mental health and even your physical health.
Some signs that it’s time to take a mental health break from work include lost focus, physical stress and lack of self-care. But if you go on holiday while still connected to your work, you’ll struggle to relax and become yourself once more. It’s vital that when you leave work, you stop checking apps and emails and disconnect from work completely.
However, we know how tricky that can be in smaller businesses where everyone is relying on you. But don’t worry, there are strategies you can employ that will make sure your handover goes smoothly:
Update your email signature explaining when you’re on leave and who to contact in case of emergency
Talk to the person who will be responsible for your work and give them a heads up on any important upcoming issues
Write down anything important that the person covering you needs to know
Remind your manager that you’re going on leave and tell them how you’re covered
Email your clients to let them know you’ll be gone for a bit
Go on holiday and enjoy yourself!
Companies that stress that holidays are a work-free zone can expect to see happier, more motivated staff and boost their employee retention. Company culture is fast becoming an important factor for employees; in fact, 46% of job seekers said culture was one of the deciding factors in the application process, and 15% declined a job offer because of the culture.
Respecting people’s time goes a long way to fostering a happy and healthy work culture, ensuring that both recruitment and scaling businesses become easier. Encourage your employees to switch off from work and see the difference.
We understand the challenges of working and hiring for smaller companies, so please get in touch if you would like us to support you when you are next hiring or if you are looking for your new role.
