May 2026: Is Your Team Too Afraid to Take a Real Vacation? Here’s What HR Can Do
- May 21, 2026
- Posted by: Gus Altuzarra
- Category: Wellness
Dear HR Manager,
We’re seeing employees work during vacations or avoid taking PTO altogether becuase they feel overwhelmed. At the same time, flexible work has blurred the line between being offline and simply working remotely. How can i encourage healthy PTO use for my team?
— Supporting an Always-On Team,
Dear Supporting,
This is becoming increasingly common in hybrid and fast-paced work environments. Many employees hesitate to fully disconnect because they fear falling behind, burdening coworkers, or appearing less committed.
For employers, the bigger issue is sustainability. Employees who rarely unplug are more likely to experience burnout, disengagement, and eventually turnover. While organizations may benefit from short-term productivity when employees stay connected during time off, the long-term impact can include lower morale, reduced creativity, and increased retention challenges. There may also be wage-and-hour concerns when nonexempt employees continue responding to messages or completing work during PTO.
Leadership behavior plays a significant role in shaping workplace expectations. If managers regularly answer emails while on vacation or praise employees for always being available, teams may feel pressure to remain connected as well. HR can help managers model healthier habits by encouraging them to respect out-of-office boundaries, avoid unnecessary after-hours communication, and normalize taking uninterrupted time away from work.
Organizations looking to strengthen PTO culture should review PTO usage trends, evaluate whether workloads realistically allow employees to disconnect, and train managers on boundary-setting behaviors. Encouraging proactive coverage planning can also help employees feel more comfortable fully unplugging while away.
As conversations around employee wellbeing and sustainable performance continue to evolve, employers that actively support meaningful time away often find that employees are more focused and productive when they return to work.
— HR Manager
