Vacation? What vacation? Survey: Most execs still on the job while away from the office

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The holidays normally mark a time for people to take a break and spend time reconnecting with friends and family.

But for executives, the holidays may offer little break.

Executives may be checking e-mails and PDAs as often as football scores and weather reports this holiday season, according to OfficeTeam, a staffing service specializing in the placement of administrative professionals.

In a recent survey, more than 76 percent of executives said they attend to office duties at least a few times a week while on vacation; 33 percent said they conduct business every day when away from the office.

When the same question was posed to employees in a separate survey, only 26 percent said of the respondents said they attend to business matters when taking time off. The majority of workers surveyed n 54 percent n said they never work during their vacations.

OfficeTeam developed both surveys. An independent research firm conducted the surveys, and responses were gathered from 150 senior executives at the nation’s 1,000 largest companies, and 559 full- or part-time workers 18 years of age or older and employed in office environments, according to OfficeTime spokeswoman Jamie Carpen.

Executives may find it difficult to completely disconnect from their jobs as they often have a wide range of responsibilities and few people who can assume their duties while they’re away,” said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Advances in technology make it possible to stay connected to the office 24/7, but everyone needs time to recharge or they may return from their breaks as weary as when they left.”

OfficeTeam offers the following five tips for taking the “work” out of vacations:

• Time it right. If possible, schedule a break during a traditionally calm time in your office. For example, the last week of December might be quieter than usual because clients and customers also may be taking time off. Submit vacation requests early to secure your desired dates.

• Get the word out. Tell clients and customers about your holiday plans and provide the names of team members to contact in your absence. Use your e-mail’s out-of-office function or your phone message to let people know you’re away.

• Assign a decision maker. Designate someone whose judgement you trust to make decisions while you’re on vacation. Let that person know where key information is kept and how your files are organized.

• Unplug. While it’s tempting to bring your laptop or PDA with you, consider leaving these devices at home unless absolutely necessary. If you bring them, leave them in your room and check them only periodically.

• Establish office hours. If you must check in with the office, plan ahead. Provide your team with the days and times you’ll be checking messages so you can avoid interruptions or the feeling that you’re “on call.”