Summertime, Vacation Time

Welcome to summer everybody! I thought I would start this post with a quick link to my summer theme song, Hot Fun in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone from 1969. “Hot fun in the summertime – bop bop bop bop!” Sing it readers!

The summer season always makes me think of summer vacations. This year I am traveling all over the country for weddings. I am attending five of them in Chicago, IL; Boise, ID; Coeur d’Alene, ID; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA. Whoa is right. That’s a lot of cake and a lot of wedding gifts. It’s a good thing my husband and I like to shake it on the dance floor. My colleagues are taking great trips, too. One of them headed off to Maine this week and there seem to be enough family soccer tournaments and swim meets to last until the end of time.

Why can’t the summer fun last all year then? Well, here it can. Check out this article that I came across via The Today Show about unlimited vacations. Summer all the time! Not quite actually. The article describes three companies that do not limit the amount of vacation time that an employee can take so long as their responsibilities and tasks are complete prior to their leaving. Additionally, an employer must have a “back-up” i.e. another employee that can serve in their place while on vacation. The accountability factor is high enough so that employees do not take advantage of the program or each other according to the article.

My recruitment colleague and I serve as back-up for each other when out of the office for an extended period of time like earlier this spring when she was in Hawaii for two weeks. I am certainly always glad to assist her, but I sure was glad when she returned! Vice versa, I am planning a two week trip for next year and I have no doubt that she will do/feel the same as I. It seems the accountability factor and professional commitment are the success factors in the program and I witness them in my own job.

One other point the aforementioned article makes for which I am in perfect agreement is that remote work is also an effective perk. Here is a link to a very popular blog from HealthcareITToday.com about remote work. My company and I truly view remote work as productive, low cost, and efficient. I work from home about 80% of the time and feel that companies should explore some remote opportunities. In today’s world of reliable technology (phone, video conference, go-to meetings, etc.), remote work can open up a global talent pool and keep current employees happy no matter where they are.

So what do you think everybody? Are you ready for endless summer?

About the author

Cassie Sturdevant

Cassie Sturdevant is a Senior Recruiter for Impact Advisors, a healthcare IT strategic and implementation services consulting firm just named 2013 Best in KLAS for Overall Services. She specializes in humor and follow up.

   

Categories