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Should You Be Allowed to Work Yourself to the Bone? 8-4-04 |
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Written by David Batstone
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A recent study of employee activity reveals that in 2003 U.S. workers on average forfeited three vacation days each year. That's up nearly 50 percent from 2002, according to Harris Interactive, an online polling firm.
What's up with that? Have we turned into a nation of workaholics? American workers already receive far less vacation - about 12 vacation days per year - compared to workers in developed economies like Europe, Canada, or Australia. Given its laid-back reputation, you'd expect the West Coast to buck the trend. But the survey shows that U.S. Westerners work hardest of all - more than 56% work more than 40 hours a week, and 27% give up more than a week of vacation each year.
On that note, while I was consulting with a major European company this week, the matter of balance at work emerged. The director of human resources made it clear that she did not want senior or junior employees to work excessively so as to forego a personal life. A senior marketing director in the room questioned her assertion. "Isn't it an individual's choice to work, say, 70 hours a week and earn the financial rewards that come along? I don't think the company has the right to step in and make that choice for a person."
The HR director quickly disagreed. "It's our role to ensure work balance for all our employees. Otherwise, they will damage their own lives and it will impact their productivity at work."
It's a fascinating debate...does a manager have the right to monitor the "work balance" of those who answer to him or her? If so, when and how to intervene?
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