TAIPEI (TVBS News) — As remote work becomes more common in many Western countries, a new phenomenon called “quiet vacationing” is emerging, following the trends of “quiet quitting” in 2022 and “workcation” in 2023.
Quiet vacationing refers to employees secretly taking time off during work hours to travel or vacation. This working style has become a trend among Generation Z and millennials in the U.S., especially among remote workers and digital nomads.
Career development consultant Bryan Yao (姚詩豪) said, "Traditional work is still in the office. It is impossible not to notice if you're absent for a week or two. Hence, I think ‘quiet vacationing’ is a phenomenon derived from remote work."
Taiwan has the sixth-highest working hours globally, and some industries experience reluctance from employees who do not dare take leave.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Labor (MOL), Taiwanese employees worked an average of 2,008 hours annually in 2022, slightly up from 2,000 hours in 2021. These hours are higher than South Korea's 1,904 hours and Japan's 1,626 hours.
However, experts warn that employees in high-pressure environments can suffer physical and mental health issues, affecting work performance and productivity. They suggest companies implement a deputy system.
Chiang Chin-hua (江錦樺), a human resources manager, said, "I think every company should implement the so-called deputy system. When a staff member needs to take leave for some reason, the work can still function normally through the deputy. So, there's no need to worry, allowing the person on leave to be at ease."
The MOL data also indicated nearly 70% of Taiwanese employees are willing to adopt a remote work model. However, 75.7% currently cannot work remotely, and only 3.1% can perform all tasks remotely.
"Businesses should consider what role employees play in the company. Are they merely labor on the production line, where the more time they spend at the company, the more money the company makes? Or do you want their brains and creativity?" Yao noted.
"If it's the latter, only appropriate vacations and achieving work-life balance can make them more passionate and perform better when they return to work," he added.
Since taking leave is a legal right for workers, the Taiwanese government and employers should consider how to encourage employees to take leave rather than opting for quiet vacationing.
