There's a new workplace trend, and it's not about productivity hacks or AI tools. It's about people sneaking off on vacation without telling their boss — and it says more about workplace culture than it does about lazy employees.
What Is Quiet Vacationing?
Did you know 78% of Americans don't use all their vacation days? That's a pretty big number, and it's sparked a new trend called "quiet vacationing".
Simply put: You go on a vacation or take time off without telling your boss or formally requesting PTO.
Why is this trend on the rise?
Recent months have been tough for many companies and their employees. There's a constant fear of layoffs, missed deadlines, or looking unproductive, leaving people too anxious to ask for time off.
Which leads to a bigger risk of a burnout. And even greater need for a proper vacation.
It's a vicious cycle — but one we need to break.
I found a great study on quiet vacationing that really opened my eyes to the importance of normalizing real time off. If you have a minute, it's worth a read!
The Data Behind the Trend
The Harris Poll survey Lisa references — conducted among over 1,100 employed American adults — paints a clear picture. Despite 83% of respondents being satisfied with their company's vacation policy, 78% still don't use all their available days. The average American worker took just 15 paid days off last year.
The reasons are telling: 31% cited pressure to always be available and responsive, while heavy workloads and guilt about burdening colleagues ranked close behind. Nearly half (49%) said they feel nervous when requesting time off. Among millennials, 37% admitted to taking time off without informing their manager. For Gen Z, the figure is 24%.
As Libby Rodney, chief strategy officer at The Harris Poll, put it: the trend reflects a deeper issue where employees feel they cannot openly take breaks without consequences.
What Office Managers Can Do About It
If people on your team are quietly disappearing instead of openly taking vacation, the problem isn't the people — it's the culture. Here's how to start fixing it:
Lead by example. Take your own vacation days, visibly. If the office manager never takes time off, nobody else will feel safe doing so either.
Check in mid-year. If someone hasn't taken any PTO by June, have a friendly conversation. Harvard Business Review found that each additional 10 hours of vacation taken leads to an 8% increase in year-end performance.
Normalize the "out of office." Celebrate time off instead of treating it as an inconvenience. A simple "enjoy your break!" in a team chat goes further than you'd think.
Review your coverage plan. Often, people avoid vacation because they fear returning to chaos. A clear handover process removes that anxiety.
The goal isn't to police vacation usage — it's to build a workplace where people don't feel they need to hide the fact that they're human.
