'Quiet vacations' are booming - Here's what they are and why people love them

What is a 'quiet vacation'?

This term refers to a situation where employees secretly go on vacation without informing their management, while pretending to continue working remotely. They might answer emails from the beach or check in to corporate chats from another country, creating the illusion of being present.

They may also attend online meetings, communicate with clients, and manage tasks all remotely.

Why is it becoming popular?

According to studies, nearly 4 in 10 millennials take quiet vacations, significantly more than other generations. This may seem surprising, as millennials are often criticized for laziness. However, surveys show that other factors are at play:

Fear and anxiety: The main motive is the fear of appearing unproductive or lazy. Employees worry that requesting time off may make them seem disloyal or hurt their career security.

Doubt about time off: Some employees do not believe they will be allowed to take a legitimate vacation, so they choose to simply disappear while staying connected.

Lack of psychological safety: Experts point out that a quiet vacation is a symptom of deeper problems in corporate culture. When trust and psychological safety are lacking, employees feel the need to hide their actions.

Furthermore, a Resume Builder study showed that 43% of "quiet vacationers" secretly take up to three days off on company time, and a quarter of them take an entire workweek.

How to spot a quiet vacation employee?

Career coach Kyle Elliott advises looking out for these signs:

Change in response times: If someone who usually replies to emails and messages within minutes suddenly begins doing so hours later or at unusual times (e.g., early morning or late at night, suggesting a different time zone), this could be a clear indicator.

Sudden change in work habits: An employee might start using tools to simulate activity (like moving the mouse to stay online), but overall productivity and responsiveness may decline.

However, Elliott emphasizes that a manager's job is not to catch employees, but to understand the reasons behind such behavior.

How should managers respond?

Instead of trying to expose employees, managers should ask: Why do employees feel the need to lie? A "quiet vacation" is a direct sign that the company has issues with trust, flexibility, or expectations.

Solving this issue begins with open dialogue, creating a culture where employees are not afraid to take their time off, and clearly defining work expectations. This helps build healthier team relationships and increase employee loyalty.

Is this phenomenon really bad?

According to psychologists, the "quiet vacation" only has negative consequences for the company itself, as it reflects internal problems that drive employees to use tricks.

If the employee is responsibly completing their tasks and the process doesn't suffer, it doesn't really matter where they're working from. After all, situations vary.

Especially in summer, work intensity often slows down as many people spend time with family and children.

On the other hand, an employee who takes work along even on a short trip cannot fully relax, mainly because their thoughts are constantly on work and they fear being caught.

Still, these short getaways allow employees to recharge a bit until they can take a proper vacation, which is an important factor for mental health.

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