Millennial workers have long been characterized as entitled, disloyal job-hoppers – but according to a recent report by the AARP, they are also workaholics.
The study found that 47 percent of millennials (ages 20 to 36) feel it is “extremely” or “very important” to stay connected to their employer while on vacation. Meanwhile, only 33 percent of Generation X-ers and a mere 16 percent of Baby Boomers feel the same. Additionally, almost 75 percent of millennials expect to bring work along with them as they’re traveling. In a similar survey, 42 percent of millennials admitted that they intended to work on vacation, compared to just 28 percent of Gen-Xers and Baby Boomers combined.
This isn’t healthy for millennials, and it’s probably counterproductive to their overall performance.
Young people are suffering from higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts from previous generations. In an article for Psychological Bulletin last year, UK researchers associated these mental health issues with millennials’ high levels of perfectionism, saying that they feel overburdened with a perfectionist streak. Millennials are even willing to sacrifice their time off to meet the high standards they have set for themselves. If they completely disconnect, they may miss an important email from the boss!
It doesn’t help that millennials feel immense pressure to accelerate in their careers as the economy finally gets back on track. Millennials suffered from unemployment, underemployment, and minimal salary growth during the Obama administration. With the economy now in their favor, they are eager to unload their student debt, get married, and even buy their first home. But they need financial security before they can do any of that.
Some experts blame the increase in accessibility and the fear of missing out, or FOMO, for this trend. Others say millennials simply enjoy their side hustles and don’t mind taking care of some business while they are poolside. Whatever the case may be, this trend is more of an addiction than an attribute.
Research shows that vacation time boosts overall productivity and motivation to work. This is only hindered when an employee feels the need to shoot off emails from the beach.
Ultimately, a vacation isn’t truly a vacation unless you’re able to disconnect from work. Yet millennials have popularized the idea of the workcation. U.S. Travel Association’s Project:Time Off defines a “workcation” as “traveling somewhere with the intent to work remotely for all or part of the time you are away.” A shocking number of millennials (39 percent) find the concept of a workcation “appealing.”
Millennials should be applauded for their work ethic, but should be encouraged by their employers to let auto-reply do its job when they are out of the office. Obsession is never a good long-term strategy.
[Also read: Slight majority of millennials say they will vote in 2018 midterm elections]
Brendan Pringle (@BrendanPringle) is a freelance journalist in California. He is a National Journalism Center graduate and formerly served as a development officer for Young America’s Foundation at the Reagan Ranch.
