Friday, August 25, 2017
How Even the Busiest Business Owner Can Make Vacation Happen This Year
Hard to believe, but summer is nearly over. Did you take a vacation from your small business this year? If you’re like many entrepreneurs, the answer is no. Just 57% of small business owners in a recent survey by OnDeck Capital say they are vacationing this year, and only 32% say they generally make vacation a priority.
Getting away from it all for a vacation is challenging for many Americans, but especially for small business owners who often lack the staff to delegate to while they’re away. But taking a vacation—even a short one—can make a huge difference in your productivity, motivation, and energy levels after your return. And it might be easier to do than you think.
Just what the doctor ordered
Consider this: According to the OnDeck Capital survey, the group most likely to make vacation a priority is doctors—people who literally deal with life-and-death situations every day. Sixty-seven percent of doctors in the survey said they take vacations, compared to just half of restaurateurs. If doctors can manage to take time off, certainly you can.
The longer entrepreneurs have been in business, and the more employees they have, the more likely they are to take a vacation, the survey found. That could be because these veteran entrepreneurs have learned how important it is to take time off, or because they generally have more people to delegate to. Seven out of 10 small business owners who have been in business for 11 to 20 years are taking vacations, compared to 47% of those in business 1 to 10 years; 57% of those with 1 to 5 employees take vacations, as do 63% of those with 6 to 10 employees. Not surprisingly, self-employed people (with no employees) are the least likely demographic to take vacations: just 42% of them do.
Unplug and delegate
Even taking a vacation doesn’t mean entrepreneurs are actually unplugging from their businesses, however. Sixty-seven percent of business owners surveyed say they check in with their business at least once a day; just 15% are able to disconnect altogether during a trip.
RELATED: 10 Ways to Keep Your Business Running Smoothly While You’re on Vacation
Checking in with your business may not be ideal, but sometimes it’s essential to make a vacation work. (No wonder 75% of doctors who take vacations check in every day.) You can try to maximize your downtime by limiting work check-ins to once or twice a day—say, in the morning before you head out on that day’s adventure, or in the evening before dinner. Or, take a lesson from how doctors do it: Delegate one of your staff to handle your phone calls, voice mails and emails, and alert you when anything urgent arises. That way, you can be confident you’re not missing anything important, but you don’t have to keep checking your phone.
Also let go of the idea that vacation has to be a lengthy affair. Of the business owners who do vacation, 61% take one week off, 26% take a few days, and 9% take two weeks. One week off seems to be the sweet spot where you get the benefit of time off without missing too much that’s going on at your business.
To maximize relaxation, try choosing a location relatively close to home so you’re not spending entire days traveling. Of course, even a few days off is better than nothing, and almost every entrepreneur can make this work. For example, try tacking a couple of personal days on to your next business trip.
Seasonal considerations
Summer may not be your ideal time to take a break—for instance, if your business is seasonal and relies on summer tourists. If that’s the case, look on the bright side: Traveling during off seasons can save you money and be more relaxing, with fewer crowds.
But whenever your business’s off-season is, find a way to take some time off. If you don’t feel like your business has an off-season, consider when your customers slow down. Do they shut their offices down for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day? Then take your break then. You get the idea.
RELATED: Time Out! How Taking a Vacation Will Make You a Better Entrepreneur
The post How Even the Busiest Business Owner Can Make Vacation Happen This Year appeared first on AllBusiness.com
The post How Even the Busiest Business Owner Can Make Vacation Happen This Year appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Rieva Lesonsky.
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The Three Worst Workplace Incentives and How to Fix Them
Airbnb will give employees $2,000 to travel and stay in any Airbnb listing in the world; Burton Snowboards offers up “snow days” along with season ski passes to hit up some fresh powder. And Adobe shuts down entirely for one week during the summer and for one week in December.
These are just three examples of major companies that go above and beyond when it comes to providing incentives for team members. Perks don’t have to be this grandiose either, but the general consensus is that a workplace should offer more than just the bare benefits minimum to ensure employee happiness.
But what happens when a perk starts to fizzle out and lacks the stickiness that made it such a great idea in the first place? Let’s take a look at a few good incentives that have become “not-so-great,” and how you can turn them into perks your staff will enjoy.
Complimentary gym membership
What makes it secretly the worst? For years we’ve been told that sitting for hours on end is slowly killing us, so what could possibly go wrong with giving staff a free membership to the local gym? Depending on the schedules of some of your team members, their ages, and their own health concerns, it’s slowly becoming an incentive that lacks a one-size-fits-all approach.
Try this instead: Consider the self-care needs of your employees and provide a stipend that they can use to stay happy and healthy on their own terms. For example, Eventbrite offers a monthly stipend that staff can use on juice cleanses or yoga classes. Additionally, see to it that your team is seated in comfortable, ergonomic chairs that benefit their posture and purchase new ones as needed.
RELATED: These 13 Employee Perks Weren’t Such Great Ideas After All
Free snacks
What makes it secretly the worst? It’s all kind of in the name, isn’t it? Nothing sounds better than free doughnuts, chips, soda, and coffee every day in the office—until you’re crashing at 2:30 p.m. after the sugar high wears off.
Try this instead: This is a tricky one because inevitably something semi-sweet will creep its way into the workplace (especially where birthdays are concerned). If you don’t have the space for a cafeteria and can’t offer catered lunches, consider Evernote’s approach: At its Evernote Academy, employees can take team-building courses like macaron baking. Enroll your team in cooking classes each quarter. This will allow them to discover healthy alternatives to sweet treats and to learn how to cook them. More than just making a meal though, learning to cook is also a great team-building exercise without being too cheesy.
Unlimited vacation
What makes it secretly the worst? In theory, everything about this policy sounds incredible, but the reality is it’s a privilege that seldom gets abused by anyone. Surveys have shown that when allowed to take more paid time off, employees are less inclined to actually do it. Lately, this one has been falling under the “use it or lose it” category with some companies even rescinding the opportunity if nobody takes advantage of it.
Try this instead: Take a page out of Burton’s book with company “snow days” that give your team the chance to rest and recharge. Unlike a lengthy vacation, which can cause more stress than relaxation at the thought of the work load awaiting when you get back, these sporadic days offer up much-needed breaks for everyone.
RELATED: 10 Low-Cost Employee Perks That Pay
The post The Three Worst Workplace Incentives and How to Fix Them appeared first on AllBusiness.com
The post The Three Worst Workplace Incentives and How to Fix Them appeared first on AllBusiness.com. Click for more information about Deborah Sweeney.
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