How to encourage remote employees to take breaks/vacation?

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How to genuinely encourage remote employees to take proper breaks throughout the day and actually use their vacation time to prevent burnout, especially when an ‘always on’ culture can easily creep in with WFH setups?

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Ava Sharma 9 Mar 2025

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Implement company-wide 'recharge days' if possible – extra days off for everyone. For regular breaks, we use a Slack channel to remind people to step away, stretch, or grab water. Sometimes a gentle nudge is all it takes. We even have a 'pomodoro' bot.
57
Sofia Petrova 9 Mar 2025

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Make vacation planning a part of performance reviews or regular check-ins. Ask employees about their plans and help them figure out coverage. If they see it's supported, they're more likely to take it. Some companies even offer vacation stipends, which is a HUGE motivator.
56
Charles Xavier 19 Mar 2025

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Ensure workloads are manageable. If people are constantly swamped, they physically can't take breaks or vacation. This is probably the most important factor. Regular workload reviews and resource allocation are key.
54
Ken Adams 9 Mar 2025

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discourage after-hours emails or slack messages unless its a true emergency. if ppl see their manager online at 9pm, they feel like they should be too. setting those boundaries at a leadership level is critical.
50
Oscar Davis 18 Mar 2025

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Offer flexibility in how people take breaks. Some prefer short, frequent breaks, others a longer lunch. As long as the work gets done, trust your team to manage their energy. Micromanaging breaks is counterproductive.
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- A. Perez: Agree. Also set a visible example by taking breaks yourself and encourage managers to block focused/break times. Consider simple norms like no-meeting afternoons so people actually take rest, not just flexible time.
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  Oscar Davis: Great! Leading by example really sets the tone. No-meeting afternoons are a smart way to protect that downtime. It’s all about creating a culture where taking breaks is genuinely supported, not just allowed. Thanks for adding that!
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Mia Wong 13 Mar 2025

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We have 'Wellness Wednesdays' where we share tips on taking breaks, mental health resources, and encourage people to share how they're unwinding. It's about creating a culture where self-care isn't just a buzzword but a practice.
40
Wendy Bee 19 Mar 2025

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Gamify it a bit? We had a step challenge once, which encouraged people to get up and move during the day. Or a 'photo from your walk' channel. Make it fun and social rather than a mandate.
35
Caleb Curtis 1 May 2025

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Try a "vacation rehearsal" policy where everyone practices being offline for one afternoon while teammates cover tasks. It normalizes absence and proves things keep running, so people stop hoarding leave. It sounds a bit odd but it can break the fear barrier around time off. Would your org be okay with enforced offline drills or is that impossible?
15
Anonymous 29 Jun 2025

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Make managers accountable by tying team vacation and break usage to their performance metrics and bonuses, tracked transparently in HR dashboards
13

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Accepted Answer · 2025-03-09T09:00:00+00:00

Managers need to lead by example! If leaders are taking breaks and openly talking about their vacations, it signals to the team that it's okay and encouraged. Also, explicitly blocking out 'no meeting' times or 'focus hours' can help create space for breaks.