Vacation work

Should we feel guilty when we take time away from the office? Should we contemplate how to check in without the family knowing about it? At what point do we just say, “I’m on vacation, call me next week. “

Well over the years, I have been through this over and over, always wanting to be good corporate citizen. But as I have put in my time, I find it a lot easier to walk away and not look back. Some co-workers say they can’t do that, that they always need to be in contact. They say, “What if there is an emergency.” My response is, not your problem if you trust your teammates. Personally I think they fear that if things go well, then it shows they are not needed. But the opposite is true; if things go well, then you did your job and everyone knows it.

I think my attitude towards this stems from being called on my honeymoon. Granted the northeast was blacked out, but I told them, not my problem and gave them a name to call. Besides I don’t work for the power company.

So far this “leave it at the office” attitude has worked rather well. I find myself more rested, better able to handle tasks when I return, and in general a better worker. Granted in todays world of smart phones, work from home employees (like myself), and the internet, this stay away concept if a difficult one. But for those that can do it, it pays rewards in the end.

Well time for me to go and enjoy my vacation now.