‘Hush-cations’ of remote workers raise concerns among employers
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — Remote workers, enjoying the benefits of a commute-free job and a flexible work-life balance, are now finding new ways to maximize these perks.
One emerging trend is the “hush vacation” or “hush-cation,” where employees take off days without officially reporting them as vacation days. Though amusing to some, this trend poses challenges for employers.
“People are often bending the rules by continuing to work remotely as agreed upon, but not from the remote location their boss expects them to be,” Smriti Joshi, chief psychologist with Wysa in Boston, told Fox News Digital.
“This phenomenon, not feasible prior to the onset of fully remote jobs, is presenting a new challenge for employers and is also quite telling of what employees are feeling they need right now.”
Drivers behind the ‘hush-cation’ trend
The fear of losing the freedoms of working flexibly, especially as many organizations call employees back to the office, is a significant factor driving the hush-cation trend. Employees feel passionately about their right to work under their terms and view their work location as a decision they should control.
“Hush-cations in that sense may be a way of quietly battling back against their employer, or attempting to assert that control back to themselves,” Joshi explained.
Social media also plays a significant role in popularizing this trend. “As we’ve seen with other workplace trends like this, once it starts getting talked about, the more it inspires others to follow suit,” said Annie Rosencrans, people and culture director at HiBob in New York.
With the summer approaching, an uptick in hush vacations is expected as people seek to enjoy warmer weather while conserving vacation days for peak seasons like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Lauren, a 29-year-old graphic designer from Florida, shared her experiences with hush-cations.
“I have taken a day off to move a friend or for a mental health day, and didn’t tell my boss that I was really off,” she said.
“In July, I plan to take a few long weekends and I don’t think I am going to use official vacation days. Since I work from home, or anywhere else, I feel like as long as I do my job I can bank my vacation days until I want to officially use them.”
Addressing the underlying issues
Experts suggest that the hush-cation trend, along with other workplace phenomena like quiet quitting, stems from employees feeling overwhelmed and seeking ways to alleviate stress.
“They’re looking for ways to relieve the pressure they’re feeling at work and at times are getting pretty creative with how to do that. These trends underscore the need for organizations to prioritize mental health and well-being initiatives, challenging the stigma surrounding discussions about mental health in the workplace,” Joshi said.
Rosencrans advised managers to approach the situation with caution if they discover an employee has taken undisclosed PTO.
“Seeing how an employee responds is important, as it can indicate whether this is a pattern, a mistake or an intentional move to take extra time off,” she said.
As the lines between work and personal life continue to blur, employers must address the underlying issues driving trends like hush-cations, fostering open communication, and promoting a healthy work-life balance for their remote workforce.
