3a: Remove Vacation Policy

Question 1

What’s the difference between hours you clock and achievements?

Answer 1

Just because you are chained to your desk all day doesn’t mean you are successful or a good employee.

Question 2

Do vacations improve performance?

Answer 2

Yes, it allows a mental and physical reset. Many people get their best ideas during vacations.

Question 3

What’s the 1st key to removing the vacation policy, and making it work?

Answer 3

Leaders must model big vacation-taking

Question 4

What’s the 2nd key to removing the vacation policy, and making it work?

Answer 4

Set and reinforce CONTEXT to guide employee behavior

Question 5

What does freedom lead to?

Answer 5

Freedom leads to responsibility. Giving people freedom makes people more accountable

Question 6

What are the takeaways from chapter 3a (vacations)?

Answer 6

3a (vacation)

• When removing your vacation policy, explain that there is no need to ask for prior approval and that neither the employees themselves nor their managers are expected to keep track of their days away from the office.
• It is left to the employee alone to decide if and when he or she feels like taking a few hours, a day, a week, or a month off work.
• When you remove the vacation policy, it will leave a hole, What fills the hole is the context the boss provides for the team. Copious discussions must take place, setting the scene for how employees should approach vacation decisions.
• The practices modeled by the boss will be critical to guide employees as to the appropriate behavior. An office with no vacation policy but a boss who never vacations will result in an office that never vacations.