When I first started work (no jokes about horse drawn carriages please), we took holidays, and days off from work. Looking forward to a holiday, or a day off excited me then, it still does now (the picture above is of Carole and Keira enjoying a bit of shopping in Nice last summer). Over time this horribly robotic term of Annual Leave crept in to the workplace dialogue, yet another clunky cog in the lexicon of dehumanisation. Holiday sounds fun, Annual Leave sounds empty, soulless and completely unfulfilling. I don’t know where it comes from but I wish Annual Leave would sod off back there.
I’m taking a day off today to go and watch Keira’s school sports day. Later this year I’ll be taking some holiday with the family.
Annual Leave? Leave me alone!
Damn straight!
See also Charlie Judy’s great post entitled “There’s Nothing ‘Semi’ About Vacation!”: http://hrfishbowl.com/2010/12/theres-nothing-semi-about-vacation/
Hi Doug – yes ‘Annual Leave’ is not a particulary inspiring phrase is it – and brings to mind some sort of ‘allocation’ of days which invariably never feels like enough to see you through the year! (Leading to natural urge in my case to stockpile it and suddenly finding you have a surfeit by Oct/Nov…) My own holiday is fast approaching and I’m tempted to buy a pair of funky yellow sunglassses (inspired by Keira) to get me even more into the holiday spirit!
Here is an idea!
Abolish the concept of ‘annual leave’ and ‘allocations’. Establish an understanding with each employee about what their deliverables are. Then just let them get on and deliver it. Allow them to decide for themselves how many holidays and days off they take. Empower them to take total responsibility and own the accountability for delivery.
I think we’d be surprised at just how capable people actually are when given the chance.
I’m generally in favour of what you’re talking about, generally…..
But here is a thought. A holiday is recreational, some people have to take time off work to do other things, to care for example. Is that a holiday?
Does it really matter what you call it? Or are we really talking about the need for people to take time away from their commitments and relax?
Just a thought…..
@Michael – thanks for the link to Charlie’s post 🙂
@Johanna – I asked Keira where she got the glasses, they are second hand via a cousin, sorry I can’t help you more with your search.
@Adam – yeah why not indeed, have you got any jobs going at Axon & Co? I like your thinking.
@Neil – dagnabbit – you and your smart observations! Good point – I agree, caring and other important things may not be a holiday, they may be simply time off, or time away. In the end I guess what we call anything doesn’t really matter, unless you’re afflicted with a nerdy problem about what we call stuff like wot I am. Sure it’s no biggie – it’s just one more teeny nail in the coffin of dehumanisation.
Axon & Co, is still in the formulation stages, but I’d love to have you on board Doug! 😛
Cool – I’ll send you my CV thanks!