NOT Published in the Career Moves section of the Evening Echo on 17/09/2007 — see next post

So, Ireland officially has some of the lowest paid holiday rates in the EU, and according to a recent survey by recruitment website Irishjobs.ie we’re way behind some of our European neighbours. Some countries are a full working week ahead of us in terms of statutory paid annual leave. Unsurprisingly Irish workers want more, and according to the survey they’re prepared to sacrifice pay in order to get it.

It’s not the first time that Irish employees have indicated that money isn’t the only factor being considered any more when it comes to choosing a job. Other things – particularly holidays, flexibility working hours and things that will help them juggle their work and personal lives – are proving just as compelling. People are looking for the overall package that will complement the lifestyle they want for themselves and their families, rather than just looking at the most attractive salary.

The workplace today is incredibly – and at times unrealistically – demanding. People are working longer hours and are under tremendous pressure to perform at work (which is fine), but often without the corresponding emphasis on quality time away from work (which is not).

Irish employers, and the multinationals that bolster our growing economy, need to realise that people are their most important asset by far. To work at their best people need time to recharge their batteries every now and again. Long working hours, unrealistic expectations and relentless pressure all damage rather than enhance productivity.

Far from eroding a company’s bottom line, nurturing employees, encouraging them to take the time they need to recuperate, and fostering a culture where people work less hours more productively can all have a positive impact on profits.

Giving people the support they need to find a healthy balance between work and life will pay dividends on all sorts of levels: commercial, corporate, social, economic, personal… you name it.

In the Irishjobs.ie survey people complained that they continue to experience work-related stress throughout their holidays, and were under pressure both to get ahead with their work before leaving and to catch up with things when they returned. Some were even fielding work related phone calls while they were away.

Ireland seems to be spiraling into an all-American modus operandi – a culture where work increasingly rules our lives. We’re crossing an invisible cultural line: making the painful and ultimately destructive transition from people who work to live into people who live to work.

We’re spending more of our time at work, and commuting to and from work, and less of our time really living our lives. Because were under so much pressure many of us choose to get in early, leave late and take shorter holidays. It’s a destructive, self perpetuating cycle that can only end badly.

But how do you stop it? Well, for a start the government could take the “radical” step of bringing our statutory annual leave up to at least the average EU level. Then they could highlight to employers the potential productivity benefits of a happy, enthusiastic and rejuvenated workforce. They could also do more to promote positive family-friendly working practices like flexible working hours and e-commuting.

At the end of the day, though, it’s the collective impact of individual decisions by individual workers that will make the difference. The rumblings of discontent from the Irish workforce are growing steadily louder – it’s only a matter of time before people are galvanised to take action. That’s when we’ll see a real change.