No Vacation Nation July 11, 2013My LifeOff

It’s officially summer – vacation season – but, according to survey results from LiquidSpace, a growing number of Americans won’t be able to detach from their laptops.

A recent survey of nearly 1,500 professionals found 52 percent work while vacationing, up 42 percent since 2011. The average number of hours off the beach and on the clock? Eleven.

Corporate lawyer, Aishwarya Buchanan, says the demands of a busy startup in a heavily regulated industry (dietary supplements) don’t leave room to escape completely.

“The company keeps me very busy reviewing marketing materials, drafting contracts, assisting with negotiations and protecting the business’ legal interests,” says Buchanan. “For me, going on a vacation is never really a ‘vacation.'”

But is the inability to get away really good for the worker or the company?

Studies link not taking vacations to health problems.

According to the Framingham Heart Study, women who didn’t take vacations were up to eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack, compared to women who vacationed twice a year.

Still, many see more value in answering emails and heading up conference calls.

Last October Susan Solovic, author of The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million Dollar Business, vacationed with her husband in Hawaii and, “My clients never knew I was away from the office,” she tells PINK.

For entrepreneurs like Solovic, the stress is in worrying about losing business and missed opportunities.

On one trip, “My youngest grandson came into the room and sat by me and said, ‘GiGi, you work too hard,'” says Solovic. “I explained, it’s because GiGi works that we can afford these trips; and, he got up and said, ‘Oh – go back to work.”

Bonus PINK Link: Fresh out of ideas? Why a much needed vacation can help.

Do you work while vacationing?

By L. Nicole Williams

Nicole is the Editor at Little PINK Book. Follow her on Twitter @iamnicwill.

“If you’re all wrapped up in yourself, you’re overdressed.” Kate Halverson

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