Yesterday was a long day at work.  It wasn’t a hard day or a day full of back-to-back meetings.  I didn’t have to turn anything in, and I didn’t feel any pressure.  It’s the start of the winter break season when everyone starts slowing down.  I love and hate this time of year at work.  It’s always a different feeling walking through the hallways during this time.  People seem more relaxed and take more days off.  Teams start planning for next year and pushing deadlines to January.

During this time of year, we start asking about each other’s family and who’s hosting festivities this year.  We are reminded that the kids are growing either back from college or that we will be spending our festivities with our first grandchild.  We become people again.  We leave behind the workaholic in all of us.  We remember that there are other aspects to life other than work.  Because life will pass by if you just focus on work.

Today, one of my many managers stopped by and asked if I was taking time off.  He made sure that I knew he wasn’t but if I wanted to I could.  He’s planning to take time off next year.  I was going to reply with something sassy and sarcastic.  In those split seconds I felt it was best to entertain the conversation and thank him for the encouragement to take time.  He is not the one approving my time off, he’s not even in my department but tis the season.

I had a detailed discussion with one of my peers about her cooking schedule.  She’s hosting one of the winter festivities and has been for the past 4 years.  In her opinion, its all about timing and planning.  She is so committed and passionate about the whole thing.  I admire her for that.  She always has very good advice and good attitude no matter what.  Her position has been at risk for the last couple of years.

One of my last interactions was with a coworker that has been here for 20 plus years, he is planning on taking almost a month off.  Or at least not coming into the office and working from home.  He said these days there is no such thing as taking time off.  He joked on how the last time he took one day off, because he was driving to Big Bear and could not check his email, there were so many fires (people freaking out).   He couldn’t take the time because he needed to make sure things kept running smoothly by watching email and answering the phone on his vacation.  So, he has decided to work from home for the month.  I think that’s becoming the new version of taking time off.

The corporate world has become: uber competitive, positions at risk, and less time to enjoy life.  The competition has become unhealthy to the point we are comparing how many days a year we take off.  Our job security has decreased, and we dread the quarter end.  Our time off work to enjoy the things we love has vanished and checking our work email has become second nature. 

How is this sustainable?