Enjoy your well-deserved vacation, Jeff! In answer to the question posed in the title of your article: Yes, apparently so.

In the health care “industry,” a similar question has also been posed. “Does someone have to actually DIE before we can have the staffing we need for anyone to have one day off once in awhile?”

Expecting weekends off became a concept of fantasy a long time ago. Working holidays is supposed to an honor because of the extra pay. Most people required to work holidays in hospitals would rather have the time off than the money. Thank heavens, they’re dedicated enough to do it and are happy to be there while the “suits” at home with THEIR families. That way they can focus on patient care instead of hospitial politics.

Let’s hope for a happier and healthier 2009 for us all. Happy New Year!

Hi -

Not to sound too pessimistic here but that’s been the case for a long long time across many different industries. Big businesses rely on the backbones of their employees (lesser middle to upper management types) to keep the business moving at a 24×7 pace. Understanding that point does imply some entity will have to take responsibility of preserving that business ideaology. Whether its in the high technology sector, banking and financial services to healthcare and law enforcement, people will always have to be working. Its in those certain events *indirectly* tied to the business a person would work in would there be such an opportunity to relax and take time off.

So, in summary, to answer your question, yes, something does have to happen because having a guilt-free vacation imply that the onus is on someone else to get it fixed.

[...] Does the internet have to go down for knowledge workers to take a guilt-free vacation? [...]

A hell of Hollywood, Bollywood, Lolywood Wallpapers and with a lot of entertainment, Plz come and join us http://www.krazyidea.com ..

[...] Does the internet have to go down for knowledge workers to take a guilt-free vacation? [...]