Vacate on Vacation

A recent survey suggests that workers are finding it increasingly difficult to leave work behind while on vacation. Experts contend that correcting the issue is up to the individual, not the employer.

A Monster.ca poll, in which Canadian workers were asked how much they work while on vacation, shows that 23% of respondents admit to occasionally checking emails and phone messages. Another 17% said they make themselves available for emergencies only, and 17% said they never stop working. The remaining 43% of respondents said they do not work at all during their vacation time.

“Many Canadians seem to be missing the point when it comes to taking holidays,” says Peter Gilfillan, Monster Canada’s vice-president of sales. “We obviously are working harder than ever today and taking time away from the job is important, but it really means cutting links to the workplace in order to relax— something many Canadians seem unable to do today, according to the survey.”

Experts suggest that failing to detach from the office while on vacation can have negative personal and professional consequences. People need to be diligent about ensuring that their work habits don’t encroach on vacation time. “The drug of busyness is very hard to get off of,” says Randall Craig, career and work/life balance expert with Pinetree Advisors, a Toronto HR firm. “But without those vacations, you won’t be recharged enough to continue the success you’ve had so far.”

He says it’s in the best interests of the employer to ensure that workers have therapeutic time off. “The best employers recognize that there’s a war for talent and make sure employees don’t burn out,” says Craig. He explains that companies should have the onus on them to ensure that their employees fully disconnect while away, but many short-sighted organizations don’t do this. “They say that people don’t quit a company, they quit a manager. And the best managers make sure that when somebody goes on vacation, there is adequate backup so that staff can recharge.”

Joanna Stefan, organizational services manager with Ceridian Canada, says employers should be more proactive in encouraging workers to detach from work while on holiday, but says it is ultimately up to the employee to make it happen. “Remember, the root word of vacation is vacate,” she says. “We should be having a minivacation every day—whether it’s meditating or curling up with a book—something where we’re not focusing on work responsibilities [for] tomorrow.” — Jody White

 

Briefly

Almost Done Deal

The consortium led by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has finalized plans to take BCE private for $52 billion. Originally expected to close in the second quarter of 2008, the deal will close in mid-December. “The final agreement, with definitive financing now in place, preserves the $42.75 per common share price announced last June, which the board believes is very much in the best interest of shareholders, the company and Bell Canada, particularly given current capital market conditions,” says Richard Currie, BCE ’s chair. A potential deal-breaker was avoided earlier this year when the Supreme Court of Canada overturned a lower court’s decision to block the deal on behalf of a group of bondholders claiming that BCE ’s privatization was unfair to them.

Women Boost Plan Enrollment

According to a July report from Statistics Canada, after a modest gain in 2005, membership in employer registered pension plans (RPPs) resumed normal growth in 2006 due entirely to increased participation by women. Canada’s 18,594 employer-sponsored RPPs added 77,700 new members in 2006, representing growth of 1.4% and bringing total membership to 5.8 million. For the first time, the proportion of female members with a defined benefit plan exceeded the share of male members—83% of women in 2006, compared to 77% of men.

Lacking Talent

A Bedford Consulting Group survey reveals that 70% of Canada’s most senior business decision-makers say they are experiencing a talent shortage, and 54% say it’s affecting their company’s financial success. This situation is expected to worsen, according to 62% of respondents—a reflection of the baby boomers’ departure from the workforce. “Recruiting and retaining the best talent is an ongoing priority for many Canadian companies, as the competition for talent remains strong,” says Bedford Consulting Group’s managing director, Steve Pezim.