Many of us love our careers, but even if you don’t, having a job is usually a necessary part of life. It’s a way to pay the bills, save for big purchases and provide for your family. If your career is something you’re passionate about, what you accomplish at work can be very rewarding and satisfying.
While some companies may try to attract workaholics or try to turn their employees into workaholics by expecting them to respond to emails and participate in phone conferences when they’re technically done working for the day, other companies prioritize work life balance.
Have you worked at a company that cares about work life balance? They tend to be more flexible and compassionate when you need to take a day off because your child is sick or when you want to work from home because your kids have the day off school. They also encourage you to use your vacation time and might even have company discounts for things like travel.
If you life in the U.S., on average you probably have about 2 or 3 weeks of paid vacation time. You may have a few sick days in there too. It may be what you’re used to, but it also might not feel like enough vacation time. Like, you don’t get to spend much time with your kids when they’re out of school for the summer, and you don’t get to take more than one real vacation a year.
If you worked for Ernst and Young in Australia, it’d feel like you’re swimming in vacation time compared to the U.S. standard. Starting April 1st, employees will be able to take 6 to 12 weeks of vacation time. According to the company website, employees “have the opportunity to purchase up to six weeks extra leave. This provides you with more time for study, family or other personal pursuits.” Employees can also “apply for a three-month career break to take time away from work to go travel or explore other personal interests.”
Ernst and Young is also offering employees flexible time, such as the opportunity to work full time most of the year but only work part time during the summer when kids are out of school.
The company is offering such flexible time off because of millenials. According to EY Oceania’s people partner Kate Hillman, “Millennials are also driving demand for flexibility as their preference for diverse and stimulating career experiences overrides traditional workplace structures and timelines.”
What would you do with 12 weeks of vacation time? How much vacation time do you currently get each year?