Session Summary

Session Number:262
Session ID:S185
Session Title:Work and vacation - who is afraid to take a break?
Short Title:Work and Vacation
Session Type:Division Joint Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt East
Floor:LL2
Room:GndBall F
Time:Wednesday, August 11, 1999 10:40 AM - 12:00 PM

Sponsors

HR  (Lynn Shore)mgtlms@langate.gsu.edu (404) 651-3038 
OB  (Robert Liden)bobliden@uic.edu (312) 996-4481 

General People

Chair Etzion, Dalia  Tel Aviv U. etziond@post.tau.ac.il 972-3-6408-188 

Submissions

Who is Afraid to Take a Break?  
Presenter Etzion, Dalia  Tel Aviv U. etziond@post.tau.ac.il 972-3-6408-188 
Reflections on the Meaning of Work and Vacation in Light of the Changing Nature of Employment: Consequences for Individuals, Families and Organizations 
Presenter Cooper, Cary L. U. of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology cary.cooper@umist.ac.ukl +44(0)-161-200-3440 
Loss and Gain Spirals: Applying Hobfoll's COR Theory to Respite Research 
Presenter Westman, Mina  Tel Aviv U. westman@post.tau.ac.il 972-3-640-8189 
Expectations, Affectivity, and Respite Effects: Do We Experience the Relief We Expect? 
Presenter Eden, Dov  Tel Aviv U. doveden@ccsg.tau.ac.il 972-3-6409558 
Vacation and Crossover of Strain between Spouses—Stopping the Vicious Circle 
Presenter Etzion, Dalia  Tel Aviv U. etziond@post.tau.ac.il 972-3-6408-188 
Presenter Westman, Mina  Tel Aviv U. westman@post.tau.ac.il 972-3-640-8189 

Abstract

When people complain of pressure or fatigue, the common advice is to "take a break". It is often assumed that such breaks allow people to relax, to distract themselves from their day-today responsibilities, to engage in pleasurable activities, and to replenish their energy resources. Despite the general belief that breaks help people to cope with stress, there has been little empirical research on the topic until recently. Moreover, findings with regard to the effect of a respite from work on stress and strain are not unequivocal. For some people,a vacation is itself a source of stress, and they will resist taking the time off due to them. Another type of respite avoidance,according to management lore, is overloading on overtime, sometimes even without extra pay. It seems that giving overworked, ambitious employees the opportunity to rest does not necessarily help them.They themselves must see the respite as legitimate and be convinced that their colleagues perceive it to be so. Similarly, deep-seated personality traits such as Type A and workaholism are another reason why some workers shun vacations. The panel will discuss the need for a systematic investigation of the conditions under which a break from work may produce beneficial effects on employees’ well being. They will focus on cases and conditions in which this effect cannot be taken for granted, such as unemployment and job insecurity, economic hardship, negative expectations or bad family relations, and try to develop ideas on what can be done to amend these situations.