According to a CROP-CRHA survey conducted in May, rest, taking some time for themselves (32%), spending time with their families (29%) and travel (24%) are Quebec workers’ three priorites for their summer vacations in 2012.
Not surprisingly, these priorities differ in importance according to age, as the following table indicates.
2012 Vacations – Workers’ priorities by age
| 18-34 | 35-55 | 55 and over | |||
| Rest | 39 % | Family | 37 % | Rest | 39 % |
| Family | 26 % | Travel | 25 % | Travel | 36 % |
| Travel | 18 % | Rest | 24 % | Family | 11 % |
However, the summer holidays won’t be energizing for everyone. Some 38% of respondents indicated that their 2012 vacation won’t be enough for them to completely top up their energy levels. Although this percentage is an improvement over 2010 (43%) and 2011 (55%), the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés considers it essential to reiterate the importance of an annual break both for employees’ psychological balance and for organizations’ overall productivity.
It isn’t easy to leave work behind!
Interestingly, 45% of those surveys said that they check their work messages (voice mail or email) at least once a week while they’re on vacation, while 14% said they did so more than five times a week. Also of note, Francophone workers (47%) seem less inclined than non-Francophones (36%) to check their messages while on holiday.
“Leaving work totally behind isn’t always that easy. Especially when your vacation lasts a week or less as 26% of the respondents reported. Under the Act respecting Labour Standards, a worker with one or more years of seniority with an organization is entitled to at least two weeks vacation per year. This is a minimum for employees to be able to recharge their batteries,” explains Stéphanie Aubin, CHRP and Executive Vice President of the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés.
Number of weeks of vacation (2010, 2011 and 2012)
|
|
2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| None | 8 % | 12 % | 9 % |
| Less than one week | 12 % | 3 % | 3 % |
| One week | 10 % | 10 % | 14 % |
| Two weeks | 35 % | 35 % | 35 % |
| Three weeks | 14 % | 19 % | 23 % |
| Four weeks | 10 % | 11 % | 7 % |
| More than four weeks | 9 % | 7 % | 5 % |
| Don't know | 3 % | 4 % | 3 % |
To learn more
Click here for the complete results of the CROP-CRHA survey (in French only).
