Is Quiet Vacationing the New Quiet Quitting?

In today’s fast-paced work culture where burnout is a constant threat and “always on” expectations make it hard to disconnect, employees are finding new ways to reclaim their personal time. “Quiet vacationing” is a growing trend where workers take time off without officially requesting vacation days. Today we’re going to find out what’s driving this trend, and how it affects companies, coworkers, and workplace culture. Let’s begin.

What Is Quiet Vacationing?

At its core, quiet vacationing is a subtle form of taking a break from work without officially taking time off. Instead of blocking out time on the company calendar and informing managers of their absence, employees might avoid scheduling meetings at certain times, reduce their Slack or email activity, work at a slower pace, or stretch deadlines on projects.

Unlike quiet quitting, which refers to employees setting firm boundaries and doing only what their job requires, quiet vacationing is more about self-managed downtime—taking off time without fully disconnecting or using PTO.

Why Are Employees Quiet Vacationing?

There are several reasons why this trend is gaining momentum, particularly among young professionals. For starters, quiet vacationing might seem like a way to avoid the stigma (perceived or otherwise) associated with taking time off. In many workplaces, employees feel pressure to always be available. Some fear that taking vacation days will make them look less committed to their job, or worse, replaceable. Thus, they opt for a subtle way to recharge rather than risking that perception by officially taking PTO.

Another reason is that many employees have a limited number of paid vacation days, and they don’t want to use them unless absolutely necessary. Quiet vacationing allows them to take a mental break while preserving PTO for family emergencies, personal projects, or actual vacations.

With remote and hybrid work making it easier to blur the lines between personal and professional time, many employees feel constantly plugged in. If formal time-off requests aren’t encouraged, or if workloads don’t actually decrease during PTO, some workers may take matters into their own hands by stepping back quietly.

Many employees dread the pre- and post- vacation workload crunch—scrambling to finish tasks before leaving, only to return to an overwhelming backlog. In this situation, employees might feel that quiet vacationing lets them take small breaks without the stress of catching up afterward.

The Impact of Quiet Vacationing on Companies and Coworkers

While some individuals might see quiet vacationing as a benefit, it can create challenges for teams, coworkers, and company culture. For instance, when an employee slows down their output without formally taking time off, their responsibilities often fall onto coworkers who are left to pick up the slack, without any clear communication. This can lead to frustration and resentment among colleagues who feel overburdened.

Successful teams rely on clear communication and collaboration. If employees aren’t open about needing a break, it can disrupt workflows and cause misunderstandings about deadlines and responsibilities. Along with this, a workforce where employees are frequently quiet vacationing could see a gradual decline in productivity, as key projects take longer to complete and accountability weakens. Without clear policies that encourage real vacations, companies risk a disengaged workforce.

Perhaps the biggest downside of quiet vacationing is that it doesn’t provide the same mental and physical recharge as truly disconnecting from work. Instead of taking a real break, employees remain semi-available, which prevents them from fully recovering from stress and burnout.

What Can Companies Do About Quiet Vacationing?

Instead of cracking down on employees for quiet vacationing, companies should address the root causes that drive this behavior. Companies need to foster an environment where taking PTO is normalized, encouraged, and respected. Leadership should lead by example—if managers never take vacations, employees won’t feel comfortable doing so either.

Some employees resort to quiet vacationing because they don’t have enough PTO or feel restricted by rigid policies. Offering unlimited PTO, mandatory vacation days, or mental health days can help employees feel comfortable taking time off when needed.

As stated earlier, one reason employees avoid taking PTO is the fear of coming back to a mountain of work. Companies should implement better workload distribution and cross-train teams so that taking time off doesn’t disrupt productivity.

Leadership should foster open conversations about work/life balance. Instead of pushing employees to find secretive ways to take breaks, companies should create an environment where employees feel safe discussing workload concerns and personal time needs.

Take a Real Vacation Instead

If you’ve ever felt the urge to quiet vacation, here are some better alternatives:

• Plan Ahead: Give advance notice to your team, delegate tasks, and ensure major deadlines are met before you leave.
• Take Short Breaks Instead of Long Disappearances: If a week-long vacation isn’t possible, schedule half-days or long weekends to recharge.
• Set Clear Boundaries: If your company has a culture of overworking, communicate when you are and aren’t available, even if you’re remote.
• Advocate for Better Policies: If your workplace discourages PTO, talk to HR about revisiting vacation policies to support healthier work/life balance. If you’re in a leadership position or you’ve got good rapport with management, consider discussing ways to implement some of the strategies mentioned in the previous section—in some cases, the company may not be aware how its policies (or lack thereof) are affecting its employees.

Quite vacationing is a symptom of a larger workplace issue—one where employees feel pressured to be “always on” but still crave rest. While it may seem like a short-term solution, it isn’t a sustainable way to achieve true work/life balance. Companies that want a happier, more productive workforce must take a proactive approach to vacation policies.

If your job makes you feel like quiet vacationing is your only option, it may be time to find a company that truly values work/life balance. Remember, real rest is essential; not just for your own well-being, but for long-term career success.