Millennials Are Turning To ‘Quiet Vacationing’ Instead Of Requesting Time Off

There’s a new work trend that Millennials are quickly embracing, and it’s not making their employers too happy. However, in an era in which more and more people are pushing back against toxic work culture, this generation of workers is ready to prioritize work-life balance.

Most of have heard of “quiet quitting” but “quiet vacationing” is a whole different realm in the workplace that includes taking time away from work without telling the workplace.

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We have all the deets on this one for you. So, mute that work call, grab your favorite beverage and settle in.

‘Quiet vacationing’ means doing what you want while on the clock

woman in red long sleeve shirt holding hair blower — Unsplash

So, “quiet vacationing” has a pretty basic concept that includes people pretending to work while they’re actually doing other things in other places. So, they may sign into work in the morning, but by noon, they’re at their hair appointment that they didn’t tell anyone at the office about.

There’s no need to take a half-day because the key to “quiet vacationing” is to get paid while also secretly taking care of personal goals, errands, etc.

‘Quiet vacationing’ works best for remote employees

person holding silver Acer Chromebook laptop — Unsplash

Remote workers have the advantage when it comes to “quiet vacationing” because there’s no expectation to physically show up to an office. As long as meetings and assignments are on time, they can technically be anywhere at any time without anyone knowing.

For millennials especially, remote work has opened the doors to a more flexible work-life that enables them to pay more attention to self-care.

Many millennials opt to travel while on the clock

woman leaning on white concrete surface beside swimming pool during daytime — Unsplash

Millennials with a remote or hybrid schedule travel more without taking time off.

As long as they have a computer and WiFi, they can hop on work calls, check emails, and do whatever their job entails while drinking a margarita by the pool in Hawaii.

They’ve mastered the art of seeming busy with a lot of work

a woman sitting at a desk using a laptop computer — Unsplash

The art of a “quiet vacation” is all about making it seem like work is still going on as usual throughout the day. So, many millennials have specific strategies to ensure it doesn’t look like they’ve just disappeared (even though they kind of have).

Some are keen on refreshing their Slack or Teams (or whatever their job uses to communicate) to make it look like they’re active throughout the day. They’ll send emails and hop on call when needed, but it’s key to maintain the presence of availability all day. Even during the skydiving lesson that the company definitely doesn’t know about.

Some even use “mouse jigglers,” which automatically move the computer’s mouse to make the employee look like they’re around all day, even when they’re actually feasting at a Las Vegas buffet after skydiving.

A lot of millennials are doing this regularly

A study from The Harris Poll reported that 37% of Millennial employees in the United States had been using work time for their own personal affairs without notifying their employer. Are we the only ones who imagine a secret society of millennials in a “quiet vacation” club?

Of course, there are risks

grayscale photo of woman doing silent hand sign — Unsplash

Few employers would be thrilled to discover that their employees are using paid work time to secretly go to the movies or on a vacation to a five-star resort in Mexico. So, it’s almost always a secret that could have dire consequences if discovered.

For workers who live in the same area as their employer, there’s a high chance of being seen during an on-the-clock “not working” day. Also, if something urgent comes up and an employee isn’t where they said they would be, there could be trouble.

Not to mention any gossipy colleagues that are always looking for some hot tea to pass around the office.

‘Quiet vacations’ can improve mental health

woman wearing orange tube and black skirt facing terrace — Unsplash

While the risks can be stressful, leisure time and vacation can offer opportunities to reflect, de-stress, and re-center. Being able to disengage with the hustle of work without worrying about losing money puts many people at ease, especially millennials navigating a difficult economy.

There are people who find this trend troubling

woman in pink jacket lying on gray couch — Unsplash

While it’s no shocker that employers don’t like this trend, there are also employees who think it’s smarter just to use approved paid time off (PTO). According to the 2023 Pew Research Center, only 46% of American workers have reported that they only have some of their PTO.

This means that instead of asking to use their paid time off, workers are formulating their own “quiet vacation schedules.” This may stem from a fear that their PTO requests will be denied or criticized.

Some companies are offering days off to promote mental health

woman lying on bed white holding board — Unsplash

Although there’s still room to grow, more companies are offering employees one or more days off to promote better mental health. These are no-questions-asked days for employees to do whatever they want.

These days off became especially accessible during the 2020 pandemic when there were high rates of d********n and anxiety during isolation. More conversations about mental health continue to be normalized in the workplace as well.