Simply allowing employees to leave a few hours before the official end of the work day on Fridays will lift dulled spirits, according to a survey by OfficeTeam, a staffing service firm.

Of the 457 workers polled, 32% said they would like to see their employer implement for the summer an early leave policy on Fridays. “Many workers schedule weekend trips during the summer and appreciate a head start on their travels,” says Robert Hosking, director of OfficeTeam.

Speaking of vacations, CareerBuilder.com’s annual summer vacation survey has found that more than one third of workers (35%) are not planning on taking a vacation this year. In addition, those who will be indulging will be reporting back to the office fairly often. What is the reason for the frequent check-ins or no vacation at all?

Many are afraid of losing their jobs, especially those who happen to be working for companies that are barely staying afloat. Three out of every ten workers say they will check into their office during their time off, whether working on a project or not.

But Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder, notes: “A break from work is essential for maintaining healthy productivity levels in the office.”

She suggests a few tips for a successful vacation from the office.

• Start preparing the office today: As soon as you have vacation dates in mind, talk to your boss to make sure that the dates you want are available.
• Leave a plan behind: In the weeks before vacation, write down important information, vital contacts, and any deadlines that will occur while you are away. Show this information to a co-worker who can fill in for you while you are away.
• Stick to a schedule: If you must work during your break, keep a limit for both yourself and your coworkers. Do not let fun and breezy vacation activities be interrupted by a buzzing cell phone or a beeping laptop.
• Set a good example: If you are a supervisor or boss, set an example and put a restraint on your contact with the office. Employees will feel much better about enjoying their vacations if they know their boss is doing the same.

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