Want Employee Engagement? Set your OOO message.

In our last blog, we shared that Maxwell was taking time off during the holidays and talked about the personal and business benefits of doing so. In a nutshell taking time off helps produce an engaged, healthier, high-performing workforce.

Unfortunately more than half of Americans leave vacation days on the table. Two years of a global pandemic has not helped. It has made it particularly hard to prioritize vacation when many are dealing with illness, remote learning, or taking on work that is left on their shoulders as a result of the great resignation.

So what can employers do?

Encourage taking time off

Research has shown that employees who work for companies that encourage vacation are much happier with their jobs. These employees are more likely to take time off compared to those who work at places where either vacation is discouraged or managers are ambivalent about taking time off. If you don't explicitly talk about taking time off, people fill the vacuum with their own assumptions.

Lead by example

Nothing alleviates the guilt or worry of looking less dedicated than seeing others lead by example. Make sure managers and those who others look to as examples of excelling are priortizing time off.

Provide them with tools

Make it easy to set up an OOO message or let customers know in advance that employees will be out of the office; providing employees with a template that helps create social connection like the OOO response template and our "We Are Unplugging" email template empowers them to take advantage of vacation days. As an added benefit, proactively sharing templates with employees further reinforces that your organization values time off. Michelle Gieland, the author of Broadcasting Happiness, has great additional tips and resources on her website.

While we might not be great as a nation in embracing time off, it is a critical part of a Total Rewards or Benefits Package that employees have come to expect. Those employers that help their teams get over the guilt and fear of disconnecting for a few days, will reap the benefits of an engaged workforce.

We hope that as we close 2021 and enter a new year, you will join us in setting your OOO message and encourage your team to do the same.