Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Is it better to take vacations or vacation pay? Does taking a vacation reduce one’s desire (or at least, capacity) to work? We all, or most of us, want to relax in the sunny South, but we also know of people who seldom take vacations or sick days. Some people say that it is easier that way, that work becomes such a routine that you hardly see it as work anymore, just as part of your life.

Others stress the necessity of going on vacation because of burnout fears. Psychologists agree that work-related stress can cause one to experience symptoms of anxiety and even depression, in the long run. That being said, work alone will not necessarily cause a depression per se, but given a hostile environment coupled with a genetic predisposition to the condition, the result could be a full-blown MDD (major depressive disorder).

Hard work. Illustration by Elena

Industrial psychology and organizational behaviour are an interbreed of psychological science and business studies. Psychologists have looked at different work conditions, and their influence on the productivity of workers. In one study, more light led to better job satisfaction. Indeed, working in a positive environment that one enjoys, especially when feeling valued and appreciated leads to better employee morale and thus, better employee retention.

Further, many firms today focus on such aspects of the workplace, which is why many companies offer to employees gym memberships and other health-related incentives. However, nothing surpasses, at least for the author of these lines, a good, wholesome vacation on a tropical island. Fairytale exotic locations such as the Bahamas, Hawaii, Tahiti, Turks & Caicos or the Cayman Islands come to mind… Also, many people in cold countries such as Canada, travel South to escape the rough winters, but this is easier done than said, especially with full-time employment. Working from home or for a flexible employer comes in handy at this point.