Workers are increasingly taking “quiet vacations” with remote work

A recent study has revealed that more and more people are “taking quiet vacations” while working remotely.

According to the Pew Research Center, more than 22 million American adults work remotely, and workers are taking advantage of not having to be in the office to enjoy so-called “quiet vacations.” The concept of a quiet vacation is based on LinkedIn buzzwords like “quiet quit.” But instead of gradually devoting minimal effort to their jobs, quiet vacationers take mini-vacations while they’re working, making it seem like they’re working all the time.

Since the concept became popular on social media, many people have blamed its popularity on the laziness of millennials and Gen Z. However, data from a recent Harris Poll survey indicates that leisurely vacations have been a trend across all age groups. Nearly 1,200 employed workers surveyed were found to have taken a quarter of their unauthorised time off from work.

The data reflects the reality facing workers, as many are anxious about using up their vacation days and think that taking too much time off will signal laziness. Harris Poll strategy director Libby Rodney told the poll that Wall Street Journal that calm vacationers “will solve the problem and will not put themselves in a vulnerable position.”

While employers are sympathetic to those trying to circumvent the system, some point out that ultimately it is better to take time off than to do mediocre, half-hearted work while pretending to be working. Deepali Vyas, senior partner at Korn Ferry, told WSJ newspaper: “I know my people are kind of on vacation, because the output is about 30 percent lower than what I normally get from them.”

In 2018, more than half of Americans gave up their paid time off, which equates to nearly 768 million unused vacation days, indicating that reluctance to take time off remains prevalent in American culture. From feeling overwhelmed by workloads to worrying about the image that taking time off might make, many Americans struggle with work-life balance. Still, the idea that people should “live to work” rather than “work to live” is not supported by science.

According to the National Institute of Health, taking a real vacation can not only improve mental well-being, but it also helps long-term health, minimizing the risks of neurological disorders like dementia that can result from long-term sleep deprivation. Vacations often allow people to reset their sleep patterns and relieve stress, so workers feel refreshed after adequate time spent on rest and relaxation.

Additionally, using paid vacation days can have financial rewards, too. According to researchers, taking time off can increase your chances of a promotion or raise, and boost productivity. A recent study by Ernst & Young found that employees' end-of-year performance improved by eight percent for every additional ten hours of vacation.