You’ve Been Self-Served!

There’s nothing like hard-hitting “studies” to put the fear of God in folks. Who, after all, wants to read that their marriage is potentially doomed, or that their partner might collapse and die of a heart attack, or that their sex life is rather pathetic?

Well that almost sums up a new “study” from the very caring people at Westin Hotels & Resorts. Their “Wellness in Travel” survey tells us that we’ll feel soooooo much better and productive after a vacation. I could have told the marketing people at Westin these obvious facts without their commissioning a costly “survey.”

Oh wait, wait, I already wrote about the need for vacations back in July 2010 (All Work and No Play), but minus the survey.

Of course, Westin’s survey is nothing more than a very common marketing tactic used to publicize an issue or societal concern, in this case the productivity and wellbeing of American workers.

The silly thing about this survey – which is incredibly self-serving -- is that it highlights why Americans aren’t going on vacation – they are fearful about losing their jobs, and that they either don’t have the cash or want to hang on to what little they have left. Staycations are our new vacations!

I don’t know about you dear reader, but if I am already stressed about work and my financial state of affairs, taking off on a vacation is the absolute last thing I would be doing. It’s almost impossible to “check your stress” at the airport with worries like that, don't you think?

And as for experiencing more ‘wedded bliss’ on vacation... you simply save up the arguments over money for when you get back home.

How do you feel about taking time off? Do you feel stressed just by the thought of going away and leaving work behind?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

VH

All Work And No Play....

Makes us very dull people. This is a fact.

I read a great post last week about vacation time on Firm Voice, a PR blog, and the fact that Americans need a holiday.

A recent national survey commissioned by Mondial Assistance, revealed that;

four in ten (39 percent) Americans haven't had a vacation - defined as leisure travel of a least a week to a destination at least 100 miles from home - in the last two years, up from 33 percent who said the same last year. An additional 17 percent of Americans haven't taken a vacation in over a year, meaning 56 percent of Americans haven't taken a vacation recently (39 percent more than two years and 17 percent more than a year).

Tragic, huh?

While I do agree that sneaking off for a "breather" in times of crisis a la Tony Hayward is a really bad move (then again, show me any good Hayward move), I think the guilt factor and perpetual having to be "on" is working against the American workforce.

Personally, I work anywhere from 50 to 80 hrs a week.. It's not ideal, but as a PR agency owner, I have to do what I have to do. When it comes to down time, however, I feel no guilt. Of course, the blackberry and laptop are my travel buddies, yet sometimes I won't respond to emails until a few days later - shock, horror, gasp!!! But these mobility tools allow me the luxury of time away, without worrying about not being connected to the office, or I need to deal with an urgent client matter.

I (try) to take 2-3 one week breaks throughout the year as this length is managable, pre, during and post holiday.

And you know what?

I come back recharged, reinvigorated and creatively pumped to keep going until the next break. And usually a good 15 lbs heavier, but I digress....

No person should feel obligated to spend every breathing moment in the office for fear of not putting in enough face time or losing their job.

That type of workforce is a thing of the past; the one that confuses activity with acheivement. An inefficient worker is an inefficient worker no matter how much face time they put in.

We have been empoeered with tools that allow us to work anywhere and everywhere.

For the sake of innovation, creativity and a healthier, more sane workforce...

TAKE A BREAK!

This Season's Spectacle: British Airways vs.The Grinch

The Winner?
Great move Branson, what a PR boon! And what a windfall. Not only will Virgin gain the public's favour this season over arch enemy British Airways by booking larger planes to accommodate those stranded BA passengers over the 12 days of Christmas, they'll also make fistfuls of cash as icing on the cake. Deck the halls with cash and jolly indeed!

The Loser?
Poor BA. What a nightmare for both the airline and its customers. As if travel isn’t hard enough work to begin with, but leaving passengers stranded over the holidays when stress levels are already on high, is an all-out PR nightmare for British Airways.

Unite, the union involved in the going-on-strike/Christmas-travel-blackmail-scheme has unleashed this fiasco over an issue that UK courts were already preparing to resolve in February 2010. Why now? Because it wants to show its sharp, nasty teeth.

Of course, unions were created to protect workers, but in taking action like this, how are they acting in the best interest of the employees if, in the process, they make proverbial mincemeat of the brand that provides the jobs? How about thinking about the long term consequences of your actions, Unite?

How about a reality check?

A BA long-haul crew member states “There is nothing that breaks my heart more than us going on strike and affecting thousands, if not millions, of people’s lives. But I am fighting for my future. I don’t understand how I can work for a company for 14 years, and yet I am earning less now than I was five years ago.”
Welcome to the rest of the world, chump. We don’t live in the glory days of 2004 anymore. The years of excess are gone. Welcome to an era of lean, FOR EVERYONE. Worker strikes are the ultimate act of selfishness and greed.

It's especially sad because over the years BA has earned a terrific reputation, and in an industry much maligned throughout this recession. Statistically, if complaints are handled properly, studies show that the majority of loyal airline customers will not defect. This strike, however creates as much an obstacle for BA as it does as an emotional roller-coaster ride for its passengers – making it home for the holidays.

Still, amidst the airline industry’s struggle to survive, BA has continued to invest in marketing and consumer enagement to protect its brand. Earlier this year, the airline developed and launched two social media initiatives to make the brand appear more up to date and exciting and to create a network of bloggers and online communities around the globe. They have been proactive in protecting their brand and this could very well increase the chance that the strike could have the opposite effect that the union and employees were counting on. Of course, they're hoping the public will be vexed with BA, but at a time when everyone is pulling in their belt straps to keep afloat (or in the air!), striking employees who are making peoples’ lives miserable are seen as being ungrateful and greedy buggers - the grinches stealing Christmas. Ironically, consumers will end up hating BA staff, not the airline. Maggie Thatcher’s reign springs to mind.

We all know that businesses are reducing costs in order survive. By trimming operating costs, airlines can keep their fare prices lower; this is a win-win for passengers and the airlines. Striking workers is not.

At the end of day, everyone loves an underdog. If BA's efforts (short of giving in to terrorists, so to speak) are seen as fair and if they are working with disgruntled passengers, managing their communications in a very clear, honest and transparent manner, the toll to BA’s brand mightn’t be so bad after all.

In the meantime, good luck with making it home for the holidays and no holiday wishes for any striking crews. That is just bad news, at any time of year!