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Gov Career

By Phil Piemonte

Blog archive

Summer vacation? What's that?

You can run, but you can’t hide.

We’re talking about work, which today—thanks to every manner of mobile device—seems to stick to people like ticks on a dog.

Once, working a short stint in a government contract shop years ago, I had a colleague—an intense, red-faced fellow who looked like a poster boy for a cardiac event—who every evening lugged home massive hard-copy contracts to work on them at night. He seldom took vacations, and when he did, he hauled his work right along with him.

Most people at that time thought the guy was nuts. Extremely conscientious and dedicated, but nuts.

Today people like him are no longer the eccentric exceptions. The massive contract that guy used to carry—in fact, entire libraries of contracts and other like documents—are as close and accessible as the nearest iPad or other device. Today there seem to be armies of intense, cardiac-ready individuals who can’t leave work behind—as well as employers who expect to be able to reach employees 24/7, 365.

And that includes summer vacation.

TeamViewer, an online meeting and web-conferencing software firm, recently sponsored a Harris Interactive online poll of more than 1,300 employed U.S. adults and found that more than half—52 percent—said they planned to work during summer vacation. The men in the sample were even more likely than women to plan on working during vacation: 56 percent vs. 47 percent.

Of the employee respondents, 30 percent said they would read work-related emails during their summer vacation, 23 percent said they would take work-related phone calls, 18 percent would take work-related texts, and 13 percent said they will want access to a document on their work computer. Thirteen percent also said they’d be asked to do work by a boss, client or colleague.

The question is: Why would employees want to do such a thing?

Are people simply conscientious? Are they that hung up on their careers? Or are they afraid of losing jobs in a tight job market?

Maybe they’re fearful that—if they don’t stay on top of things—they’ll just have to clean up a mess when they return from vacation.

Or maybe people, trained by their devices to engage in constant online fidgeting, can’t resist just taking a peek at work email, and while they’re peeking, maybe just answering a few emails and getting roped into a conference call or web presentation. And then maybe just taking a quick look at some report.

What about federal employees? Are you guys any different? With the amount of heat feds have been taking on a range of fronts these days—threats of further pay and benefits cuts, downsizing proposals, scandals of one sort or another—one would think federal employees would be the last folks who would want to sacrifice vacation time by doing more work.

So we ask: Do you plan to work, or have you worked, while on vacation this summer?

If so, why? You’re the federal employees. You tell us.


 

Posted by Phil Piemonte on July 13, 2012 at 7:39 AM



 

Reader comments

Wed, Jul 25, 2012 MIke New England

3 years in Fed govt after 22 in private sector: I am always available by my cell phone and direct emailers to call it when I am away if it is an emergency. A 5 minute call can save you an hour's worth of paperwork when you get back. However, few people call since it is easier to send an email and I won't check those. If someone does call, it is usually very important so I don't mind talking while on vacation. This is totally different when I was working in the private sector- there you answer the phone and emails else the company can find someone who would do that and for alot less money than you were making- or your competitors would be glad to take your business away while you were relaxing (then you may have a very long 'vacation' unexpectedly!)

Mon, Jul 23, 2012 Richard Boston, Ma

I' am currently on vacation and I bring my compute to keep up on email and a few critical tasks as needed. I take two consecutive weeks and work approximately 10 to 15 hours over the two weeks’ vacation. I' am prior service so I wake-up @ 0530 -0600 hrs and check my emails and perform other tasks for about 1.5 hrs every other day. If I did not I would return to work with at least two days of reviewing emails and responding to them which would be unproductive and very stressful.

Wed, Jul 18, 2012

I have been in with the government for 20 years. Although I am what the government classifies as a lower level employee, I have never been able to leave work at work unless I am only taking a day off. For vacations, which I consider to be extended leave of one week or more, I am called, emailed and expected to answer even though my position does not entail on call duties. If I didn't do this, I'd come back pile of work and 'small fires' when I returned bc I am a one person office without a back-up and there are things that have to be done at set intervals or it would be detrimental to our program.

Wed, Jul 18, 2012 Elizabeth J. Davenport

I have worked for the Federal Government 30+ years and when I am on vacation, that is where I am. There is a person that covers my postion when I am on leave and that person can deal with what ever comes up. My instructions to my staff when I am on leave is " Don't call me unless your hair is on fire." this is telling them that I am on my time. There have been RARE occasions when one of my staff members called me while I was on leave, but I knew that this particular person would not have called me unless it was absolutely necessary. life is too short to work 24/7. There is a world out there and we need to enjoy it. Stop and smell the flowers

Tue, Jul 17, 2012 Eastern Region

I was on call 24/7 when I was in the military, but not as a fed civilian. We have a team to back each other up, however, I ensure I turn over any loose ends and provide my personal cell number just in case. Most people won't, but that might be what makes our team work so well. Empowerment is key. You need to empower others to ensure the mission is successful.

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