This last unofficial week of summer is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year – and those of us lucky enough to be on vacation should be lounging on the beach or relaxing with family.
Instead, recent surveys show, most vacationers are spending a good portion of their time off doing work. More than 80 percent of employees check in with the office while on vacation, while 40 percent check in more than once a day, according to a survey released this week by PGi, a company that facilitates virtual meetings.
“People are really having a hard time unplugging from work,” says Sean O’Brien, an executive vice president at PGi. “As technologies like smartphones and videoconferencing become more ubiquitous and let you take work with you wherever you go, that trend is only going to continue.”
O’Brien says the trend reflects an evolving understanding of the work-life balance, as employees bring more of their personal life into the office even as they are doing more work during hours when they’re physically away from the office.
“Today workers don’t think twice about sending an email to a friend or ordering something from Amazon while they’re at work,” he says. “But then the expectation is that you’re going to stay connected to the office when you’re away as well.”
RELATED: HOW TO ACTUALLY UNPLUG AND ENJOY YOUR VACATION
A separate study by office tech firm Ricoh Americas found that 54 percent of Americans say their bosses expect them to work during vacation. But pleasing the boss might not be the only reason folks are staying connected: 64 percent of those surveyed said that checking email eases the return to work after a trip.
Still, experts say it’s important to unplug for real for at least part of your vacation to reap the rejuvenating benefits of being off – and to avoid the ire of your family. The Ricoh survey found that 67 percent of workers said family members got upset when they worked during vacation.
Here are five ways to check in at work without checking out of your vacation:
1. Do some legwork before you leave.
A few weeks before your scheduled vacation, start preparing for your absence. Let clients or coworkers know you’ll be gone and to whom they should direct any questions in your absence. “You don’t want to leave your boss or coworkers high and dry,” says Sarah Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of Flexjobs.com. If possible, wrap up any big projects before you leave, and set up out-of-office notices that clarify you’ll be unavailable for a set period.
2. Scout out the technology ahead of time.
Make sure your hotel or accommodations where you’re staying has Wi-Fi or any other technology that will help you seamlessly check in with the office. Most large hotels now provide Wi-Fi, but a remote beach house may not have the connectivity you’re used to. Consider getting a wireless hotspot that will ensure you can connect from anywhere.
3. Set aside time for work – and stick to it.
Decide on a specific time to check in with the office each day, ideally when it’s least disruptive to your travel companions, such as early in the morning when your family’s still asleep. “If you allow yourself a set amount of time to maintain critical work items, it can reduce craziness before and after your vacation and give you peace of mind that you’re maintaining urgent items while also enjoying your hard-earned vacation,” Sutton Fell says.
Be clear with coworkers that you’re available only during that time period. If you think you’ll be too tempted to check email on the beach, do what plenty of people do: Leave your smartphone at the hotel.
RELATED: NO TECHNOLOGY ALLOWED AT DIGITAL DETOX CAMP
4. Skip the heavy lifting.
Since you’re only checking in for a brief period, don’t expect to launch any major projects or be involved in the nitty-gritty of a deal. Instead, skim emails, responding when necessary and delegating anything that requires attention to those back at work. “Once you start engaging, you’re telling people you’re available,” says Nicole Williams, founder of career consultancy WORKS. “If it’s not pertinent to today, hold off.”
5. Lose the guilt.
Spending time off worrying about what you’re missing at work is an easy way to kill a vacation. Instead, consider this: You may actually be doing your company a favor: Studies show that workers who take vacations are more productive and more satisfied with their jobs than those who don’t.
