Use It or Lose It!
by Anita Pagliasso

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When I looked further into these findings, I found an article in The New York Times with a heading of “Please Don’t Make Me Take a Vacation!” In the article, it reported that Americans are not using all of their vacation days and it seems to be getting worse. They are not taking advantage of the time the employers are giving them. That was particularly surprising given that, in the United States, full-time employees have an average of 3.9 holiday and vacation weeks off a year. Compared with European countries, including the United Kingdom (6.6 weeks), France (7) and Italy (7.9), according to the 2004 figures compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, our vacation and holiday time is relatively short.

However, most employers have come to realize that a rejuvenated employee is a more productive employee, and many are tracking vacation time closely to urge those employees to take time off. These companies know that they will reap the rewards of a well-rested workforce if everyone uses the time they're entitled to.

Let’s start a new marketing campaign

With this in mind, here’s a suggested marketing campaign: ”Use it or lose it! It’s your vacation time and you earned it!”

Create an email blast, send letters, or make flyers to put in offices. Here are some ideas to create your marketing pieces:

1. Start by telling these weary potential travelers that you understand how stressful planning a vacation can be and that you will help them every step of the way.
   
   
2. Find ways to reassure them that you realize that they do not need one more thing added to any of their daily work related responsibilities.
   
   
3. Use the 5 Rs in your marketing: REST, RELAX, REVITALIZE, REJUVENATE, and REENERGIZE.
   
   
4. In the end, you should leave them feeling confident that you are capable and have the expertise to plan a relaxing vacation that will meet all of their needs and desires.

Know what to say – and what not to say

Next, make suggestions on how to really take a vacation -- how to get the most relaxation from being away and how to enjoy the time and still be connected to work. In a subtle way, let them know that the office will no doubt survive but, whatever you do, never tell them to disconnect completely. This will surely send them running straight back to their office or cubicle. With these types of travelers, you are not going to talk them out of taking their cell phones, Blackberries, and laptops. Instead, tell them you will make sure that wherever they decide to go you will make sure that they know advance what will be available in the way of connectivity at the hotel or on the cruise ship.

You will win big points by letting them know that you will make sure that wherever you are sending them they will have the capability for high speed access and WiFi. They have to be assured that they can still be linked to the office – even if they do go away.

Help prepare them for leaving the office behind

Below are a few things you can suggest that they do before they leave for their vacation to ensure them peace of mind while they are away. (P.S. These ideas/tips can be used by any of us who run a business and have clients.)

• We all want to think that we are the only one who can do our job. But with productivity demands on workers today, it's very realistic to assume that some of your work will have to be addressed while you're away. Ask a trusted co-worker to serve as your back-up while you are out of the office. Brief him or her on any key issues and tasks, and leave organized files and notes. Offer to reciprocate when that person goes on vacation. This type of buddy system will lessen the pile-up of work and will also lessen the worry of the possibility that a valued client won’t be taken care of.
  
  
• Make sure your voicemail greeting and out-of-office e-mail greeting clearly state that you're on vacation with no access to messages. Offer your co-worker’s contact information for any time-sensitive issues. And be sure to reiterate that you will not respond until you return. That way, you don't have to worry that a client or contact is left uncared for – or thinks that you're just not responding.
  
  
• Let one key person know where to get you if something urgent arises that requires your attention. Don't tell everyone where you're going or how to reach you! Really take time away, which means they don't call you, and you don't call them unless absolutely necessary.
  
  
• Try to set limits on working while you are on vacation. Maybe try checking in only once a day, or work for only one hour per day. If you're someone who just has to stay in touch, either because your employer expects it or because you want to, there's nothing wrong with checking email here and there – as long as it doesn’t interrupt yours or your family's vacation. Remember, if your phone is constantly ringing and you're clearly preoccupied with work, it's not fair to everyone else.
  
  
• First and foremost, enjoy yourself – rest and rejuvenate. You have worked hard and you deserve it. I am sure you will return reenergized, revitalized and ready to take on the world! Your boss and co-workers will appreciate your new vitality and energy.

Anita Pagliasso is president of Ticket to Travel (www.aticket2travel.com), OSSN’s Western Regional Manager, and an executive board member of PATH. She has written a book titled “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home-Based Agent” and a CD (“Anita’s Toolbox for Home-Based Agents”) with dozens of her most popular forms, letters, and guides that you can download and customize for your own use. Visit www.redticketproductions.com.

(Credit: Anita Pagliasso)