Planning a 2-week vacation getaway? Experts say workers should think again

On the surface, the thought of taking two weeks off from work for an extended vacation may seem like a dreamy break from all the pressures of work.

But before you book that two-week trip, there’s more to consider than merely being off the clock for 10 work days at once. A two-week vacation can lead to work headaches and hassles after all the sun and fun.

Consider the advice of some experts before locking in a two-week getaway (unless it’s for something very, very special — read on!).

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Essentially, these experts recommend that any notions of being away from a professional job for two full work weeks in a row should remain just that: a notion. While workers have the right to a reasonable amount of vacation, this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed to take it.

Realize you’re using most of your time off all at once

If you allocate most of your vacation days to one long trip, you’re left with little or no extra vacation days the rest of the year.

Experts say that if you save up for one big vacation you might be disappointed. “When you have to return home from work with very few vacation days remaining for the year,” one expert said.
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“Using a big chunk of vacation time all at once may mean you have fewer days off to use throughout the year,” said Amy Morin, psychotherapist, licensed clinical social worker and author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.”

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“If you’ve saved up for one big vacation, you might be disappointed when you have to return to work and have few vacation days left,” she added.

A long work break may cause anxiety and other stresses

We’re glued to our devices and few of us truly unplug when we are on vacation.

“A longer vacation may not necessarily mean deeper relaxation,” Morin noted. Morin noted that you might feel more worried about work the longer you are away. You might also be more inclined to check your messages while you are away from the office. “

Few people truly unplug while on vacation. Fox News Digital was told by a psychotherapist and author that “a longer vacation might not necessarily mean deeper relaxation.”
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Also, while taking an extended vacation, you might grow increasingly anxious about what you’re missing at work.

” You might feel stressed if you start to think about the work you have to do when you return. It can be stressful to respond to emails, address issues that were not resolved in your absence, and learn what you missed. “

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Morin also pointed out that, in some situations and workplaces, “vacation shaming” is a real thing.

“Learning what you missed may be quite stressful. “

Though this goes against the best practices in human resources and general management, she said the reality is that “some managers may try to embarrass an employee for taking time off. They might even be passive-aggressive and make it difficult for employees to schedule important things during vacation. “

Know there are times you’ll get a pass

Two-week vacations are common for weddings and honeymoons, but you may also take one if you’re going on a special trip.

“If you are going on a long vacation, make sure it is for something special.”

“A trip to Europe or even Hawaii might warrant an extended stay,” said Morin.

” “You should consider whether the joy from an extended vacation outweighs the risks of being away for an extended period of time,” she said.

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“If you’re going to take an extended vacation, make sure it’s for something special.”

Understand how a two-week vacation impacts your company

Wendy L. Patrick, JD, PhD, a lecturer in business law at San Diego State University, said that in the corporate world, taking a long vacation can be disruptive for some workplaces and cultures.

Career experts recommend that you consider whether a two week vacation would be disruptive to your workplace culture before you book the trip.
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She said this is especially true now that offices and other workplaces have lost a number of valuable “go-to” employees during the last two years of the “Great Resignation.” A two-week vacation can be disruptive as it might cause resentment among younger employees who may not have the means to travel to work.

What if the boss does it?

What if a manager or supervisor takes that two-week vacation — and leaves employees more or less on their own for that time period?

One expert said that supervisors taking a two-week vacation from their work may be “reported as irresponsible” especially during a transition period of setting up new work.
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Patrick said such a scenario doesn’t always set the right tone for others, especially for younger or newer employees with a stricter work ethic. This is true even for those with the means to afford such a vacation.

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“Supervisors also might be seen as irresponsible when they decide to take a long vacation during a tenuous transition time of establishing new work schedules — which usually means lots of questions by younger employees,” she added.

Consider these additional insights

Employee productivity can also be affected during a long vacation from work.

“Many employees excel at what they do because it is something they do every day.”
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“Many employees are good at what they do because they do it every day,” said Patrick, addressing productivity.

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“This is true from the classroom to the courtroom to boardrooms across the country,” she said.

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“A 10-day or two-week vacation can disrupt the flow for many workers, especially those whose job responsibilities have been altered post-pandemic by telework or hybrid schedules,” she also said.