AMA STEPS Forward®

Pearl of the Week: Normalize, support and celebrate PTO

Consider how you communicate about paid time off

| 1 Min Read
STEPS Forward Pearl of the Week

The way co-workers talk about vacations influences workplace culture. Leaders and colleagues sometimes praise those who work while taking paid time off.

If someone takes their laptop on vacation with them to check messages, a common response might be, “Wow, that's so impressive”—which sends a message reinforcing self-sacrifice. Try this alternative message: “I’m sorry you had to do that; let’s try to fix this problem.”

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