- Covertly conducting business from the seashore by office workers
Individuals who need to work while their peers are on vacation often feel disheartened or choose to relocate their workspace to the beach rather than utilizing additional vacation days for a beach retreat. This behavior, especially prevalent among Millennials, as per a U.S. study, is known as "quiet vacation" or a "silent holiday". A study surveying 1170 working Americans found that 40% of Millennials have indulged in this, with the trend rising.
Approaches to fulfil the desire for a beach experience during work hours are numerous. Typically, people work from their vacation spot, performing the bare minimum, and make the most of their paid time engaging in their less-than-legal vacation. Methods vary from keeping the messaging app status active by occasionally moving the mouse while sipping cocktails to sending work-related messages post standard working hours, implying overtime.
Is a "quiet vacation" beneficial?
Though it may appear as a minor misconduct initially, it can substantially ruin the vacation spirit for staff. Those caught can face both termination and penalties. The problem lies not in the work location but in misleading employers about productivity. Regular inactivity during work hours constitutes a penal offense. Lawyer Nicole Mutschke stated to RTL: "This is not only a breach of contract but can also be regarded as working time fraud, an illegal activity."
It's advisable to formally request time off instead. Those who have exhausted their vacation days can ask for unpaid leave, although employers aren't obliged to grant approval. Psychologically, segregating vacation and work also holds advantages. Numerous researches indicate that merging work and leisure can result in fatigue, chronic stress, and issues with concentration and sleep. Consequently, working on a laptop at the beach might not be as captivating as one might think.
The trend of Millennials taking "quiet vacations" has raised concerns about work-life balance and potential legal issues. Despite the allure of working from the beach, engaging in such activities can be viewed as breaches of contract or working time fraud.
Given the potential negative consequences, it may be more beneficial for Millennials to fully disconnect during their vacations by formally requesting time off or considering unpaid leave, rather than attempting to blend work and leisure.
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