This sounds right and normal to some of us. Taking time off work to spend it completing pending tasks in one go! The tactic helps enable a fresh mind and slate to begin the new set of tasks or the tasks moved to the back burner to prioritize the list of urgent deliverables. What is wrong here? Everything, say reports, as they discuss the urge for people to log in and finish the backlog during offs, vacations, and any available time.
The above is leavism, which has been recognized globally as a toxic trend. It is a speedy track to burnout and can impact productivity and work satisfaction in the long run.
According to The Guardian, ‘Prof Cary Cooper and his colleagues at Manchester University first identified leavism in 2014. The team surveyed a large UK police force during prolonged job cuts. They found that more than one-third of the officers had taken leave or holiday when they were sick or injured. Cooper soon realized that using annual leave instead of sick leave was part of a wider phenomenon where holidays became a time to work.’ The same was seen in a follow-up study among a new group, and over 30% of those surveyed in 2018 revealed that they took leave to complete work.
Why it happens
The reasons for leavism vary and are divided between the individual and the organizations, apart from the tasks and roles. Some of them are:
- Too much work, too little time
- Inefficient work structure
- Too many meetings
- Blurring home and work boundaries
- Procrastination
The impact
Leavism impacts psychological well-being because of the stress it results in. Here are some implications:
- Increased fatigue
- Reduced sleep hours
- Poor diet and exercise
- Disengagement
- Impacts personal life
How organizations can change it
Improve workplace culture: Check the communication channels available for employees to raise workload and stress-related concerns.
Hire required staff: Look into the tasks of employees often to know if there is a need to hire more or a requirement for delegation.
Check working hours: Have effective tools to measure the productivity of your employees. Working outside office hours or during offs are alarm bells that the employee is grappling with the workload. Intuitive time tracking software can look into time utilized, measure capacity, plan project staffing, and pinpoint gaps in efficiency.
