Welcome to The Travel Diaries, our new series, powered by Flight Centre, where we’ll be looking into the ins and outs of travel in all its glory – from the best places you should be putting on the bucket list and affordable trips you can book now through to expert advice, fantastic deals many a yarn from gals who have been there, done that and can tell you what to do (and crucially, what not to do!). In this edition we’re talking about the shocking fact that most of us don’t take all of our accrued annual leave – and, unsurprisingly, it’s leading to burnout, poor mental health and veeeery unhappy employees. Let’s change that (and it doesn’t hurt that you could win a $10,000 holiday, too! Keep reading for more details!).
When I left (well, was made redundant) from my last job, I looked at my final pay slip. I had 12 weeks of annual leave owing.
Back then, I looked at it like a badge of honour. Look how dedicated I was to my job. I didn’t need annual leave. I was the job. Gold star for me!
Of course in the real world gold stars mean stuff all when your magazine company folds in the first week of the 2020 lockdowns and you and all your workmates get made redundant.
I was burnt out, I was emotionally tapped, I was, quite frankly, a mess. I hadn’t had much time off over the last few years of my job as a deputy editor of one the country’s biggest magazines and ooosh, it was showing. We were so busy at work it was very much put on the emotional backburner, and while I wasn’t drinking the company Kool-Aid quite as much as I used to when I really racked up the leave, I never wanted to leave my magazine in the lurch. The old ladies needed their sudoku, stat!
But there was a time where I thought taking big chunks of leave would set me at a disadvantage against my peers. We were all vying for the same positions and promotions and it was my greatest fear to seem uncommitted or not dedicated to my job – life be damned!
My GOD if I could turn back time…
However, I am FAR from the only one who let the annual leave balance run riot – we are, according to a new survey from our friends at Flight Centre, a nation of over workers. It found that, out of 1000 Kiwis, more than half (59 per cent) didn’t take their rightful four weeks of annual leave in the last 12 months, with millennials and gen Z’s least likely to take their allowed leave.
Why are we not taking our annual leave?
Well, lots of reasons – some people, women especially, feel pressure to perform in the workplace to ‘make up’ for societal issues such as the motherhood penalty or pay inequity (regular Capsule readers will be nodding with angry agreement!). Others reckon they’ll fall too far behind in their workloads. Some simply can’t afford to have any time off, or have made the choice to actively NOT take the leave and accrue it as a financial buffer in *these uncertain times*.
Whatever the reasoning, it’s all contributing to burnout, job dissatisfaction and mental health issues. Says Ross Larsen, leader of Healthwise NZ, an internal health and wellbeing division within Flight Centre, taking annual leave isn’t just good for the old workingman’s spirit – it’s essential for health and wellness.
“Taking regular breaks can help lower stress levels and improve overall physical and mental health,” he tells. “We see time and time again how people return from holidays more energised, more creative and with greater clarity. Rest is productive—it allows you to show up better at work and in life.”
Ironically, 96 per cent of Kiwis surveyed know that annual leave supports their mental health – but we’re not actually taking it.
General Manager of Flight Centre, Heidi Walker, said that she wasn’t surprised when she saw the survey results, but she was disappointed.
“Following on from Covid, I wasn’t surprised, no,” she tells. “I’m such a big advocate for health and wellness – it’s so important to rest, recharge and spend quality time with the people who matter most.”
Working in the travel industry, of course Heidi is keen to see more people zooming around the motu and the world for a bit of R+R. But on a personal note, she knows just how rewarding getting outside life’s everyday norms is for the soul – and the brain!
“Travel is freedom, it’s joy, it’s everything,” she says. “Using your annual leave to discover something new and really disconnect from what’s happening at work is what we all deserve from time to time and experience the best things about life.
“It makes me sad that people aren’t doing that, and they’re not prioritising their wellbeing. So I do hope we can influence them to lighten the load and experience some joy – even if it’s not right now, having something to look forward to in the future is a powerful thing, too.”
Yes, but what about the cost of living and the world and all that?
Yup look, fantastic points and there is no denying the state of things right now for a lot of people. But Heidi encourages anyone who is looking for a getaway to pop into Flight Centre, no matter your budget, because there is always a way to deliver a magical holiday. “We can create a holiday or an experience for most people within budgets that work for them,” she nods, adding that her team are absolute wizards at hunting out the best value-packed deals that’ll save you moolah but not sacrifice on vibes.
“We can make it work,” Heidi says. “We can also give you really good tips about saving money, especially for families travelling, and even girls trips – like, for example, choosing Rarotonga as your Pacific Island of choice. They have NZ dollars, and you can load up a suitcase with heaps of food and snacks and drinks from home (check before you go and declare first, of course) so you won’t be shelling out a lot when you’re there – you want to spend your money seeing sea turtles, not buying cheese toasties by the pool!”
Of course we all know the mental health benefits of taking a girls’ trip (as long as it’s not a White Lotus vibe of course, be selective in your friendship choices, gals), or escaping for a unplugged week with your partner, or creating memories with your family. Now’s the time to turn it into reality!
Want to win a $10,000 holiday? So glad you asked!
These school holidays, Flight Centre are championing the importance of taking holidays by hijacking out of office email replies to advocate taking a break and actually using that annual leave. So, they’re putting their money where their mouth is, and are currently giving all Kiwis the chance to win a $10,000 holiday – my God, the things you could do with $10,000 in Raro – just by setting a little out of office the next time you’re on a lunch break, popping out for an errand or your day off during the week.
How do you enter? Simple – add Flight Centre banner to their Out of Office email reply, taking a screenshot of it, and uploading it to Flight Centre’s website. Click here to enter!
“This is our way of encouraging Kiwis to take the break they deserve,” says Heidi
“Your annual leave is there for a reason – it’s time to use it.”
