Mandatory events aren’t relaxing

If you’re not a fan of HR blogs, you might not have heard of this year’s supposed hot workplace trend: proactive rest. This can mean a variety of different things, but it essentially boils down to employers trying to give their employees some kind of break before they burn out.

The concept seems to be more popular in the US, where there is no statutory requirement for employers to provide paid leave (although in practice, the average US employee receives 11 paid vacation days per year). And while an enforced company-wide day off is one of the strategies suggested as a way to help employees decompress, many suggested activities provide relief in much smaller chunks – whether that’s having meeting-free days, promoting mindfulness activities, or encouraging employees to take short breaks throughout the day.