Dreaming of a Break

One of the great things about Facebook is that I can easily stay connected to my friends by reading their status updates. The bad thing is that I also get to read about all the fun things they are doing this week while I’m slaving away at work.

I know this sounds whiney, but it’s not fair. Seriously, why can’t workers get a Spring Break too? It’s one of the things I desperately miss about school. It’s been years since I’ve had a Spring Break (too many to mention), but each time it rolls around, I always feel a ping of jealously for those who get to enjoy it. Skiing, surfing, laying on the beach, enjoying the nice Spring weather, shopping, hanging out with friends — those are just a few of the things I’m missing this week.

Sure, I could take vacation (well, I could if I wasn’t so busy), but that’s not really the point. It would be nice to have a week similar to Christmas Break when works slows down and everyone takes off. Better yet, let’s just close down our offices for a week and let people enjoy the break with their families without having to take vacation time.

When I worked for Nortel, they always closed their offices during Christmas week. Why not do the same for Spring Break? Parents wouldn’t have to worry about day care for their children who are out of school. They wouldn’t be forced to burn up vacation days if they chose to stay home with their kids or take their families on a trip. Those without children wouldn’t be penalized for being child-free. Everyone would get a nice break and return to the office refreshed. It’s a win-win.

So, what are your thoughts? Is this (1) a good idea, (2) the crazy ramblings of someone filled with Spring Fever, or (3) simply wishful thinking? Weigh in with your comments below.