Everyone needs a vacation once in a while, but The Wall Street Journal recently reported that most CEOs don't like to take a break. Citing information from a recent study, the source notes that less than five percent of 250 executives questioned feel comfortable doing no work while on vacation: The majority stay involved while away, some going as far as canceling personal time entirely when something important comes up.
While dedication is vital to success, a boss who feels they can't ever walk away from work is a bad sign. Chief executives should be free to trust operations to other c-level staff temporarily. That way, a company doesn't struggle when their CEO is unavailable—and that CEO, in turn, can get important rest and relaxation when he or she needs it.
It's not just bosses who are foregoing their time off. According to U.S. Travel Association information cited in a recent article by the Chicago Tribune, "40 percent of American workers will leave paid vacation days unused."
The Tribune spoke to the president of the Association, Roger Dow, who said that Americans "suffer from a work martyr complex" that prevents them from stepping away and enjoying themselves. In the short term, it feels like more work is getting done, but working too hard leads to greater problems later on, for both the individual and the company.
"In part it's because 'busyness' is something we wear as a badge of honor," Dow says of this overzealous work habit. "Unfortunately, workers don't seem to realize that forfeiting their vacation time comes at the expense of their overall health, well-being and relationships."
The solution? Companies should turn to an executive recruiter for c-suite staff members who complement each other and work well as a team. If everyone at the c-level feels comfortable in their positions, the CEO's week off won't seem as daunting.
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