Mandatory Fun

For all of you who aren't planning on a vacation this summer, be aware: A small but growing number of American businesses are starting to make an issue of your lack of rest. MSNBC leads off its report with a story from PricewaterhouseCoopers' Philadelphia office - it's about an HR manager, but still.

If your productivity declines, you won’t get raises or promotions, and you could end up losing your job. This becomes even more critical when your job involves creative or critical thought, experts says.

A good rest may even bring career advancement.

“Your vacation just might be the key to identifying the new product or strategy you’ve been struggling with for months,” says Noah Blumenthal, a consultant and author of You’re Addicted to You: Why It’s So Hard to Change and What You Can Do About It.

And, no, long weekends don't count. The article has some tips for planning your vacation so that you can actually relax and not worry about what's going on in the office while you're away.

Take that vacation — it could help your career [MSNBC]