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Fast Company
14-07-2025
- Science
- Fast Company
Managers think employees should take a break from work—but they don't promote the ones who do
Workers who take small steps to enforce work-life balance—like setting an out-of-office message on weekends or not answering emails on vacation—are often considered less committed and promotable, even when they're encouraged to take those actions. Researchers behind a new study looking at the phenomenon are calling this 'the detachment paradox.' 'We were only looking at stuff that happens when the worker is not supposed to work, such as evenings, weekends, and vacations,' says Elisa Solinas, an assistant professor of marketing at IE University in Spain and one of the paper's coauthors. 'What we still see is that the more the worker detaches, the more harshly they get evaluated.' Managers both value and punish time off The researchers split managers into two groups and gave each the same fictitious story about a hypothetical employee, only for one group the protagonist took a small action to detach from work during their off hours. Managers perceived the employee who enforced some relatively minor work-life boundaries as more focused, less stressed out, and less likely to experience burnout. However, they also perceived that employee as less dedicated to work. 'The same people who said that [the workers] are going to be more productive also said that they were going to be less promotable,' says coauthor Eva Buechel, an assistant professor of marketing at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 'So even the people who say this is really important and even encourage work-life balance penalize them [for detaching].' The researchers also came up with nearly identical results when they replaced the hypothetical workers with the managers' real team members in those fictitious scenarios. Finally, researchers asked participants to describe members of their staff, including their ethnicity, age, tenure, job performance, collegiality, commitment, and whether they enforce work-life boundaries. In the end, workers who took even small actions to detach from work during their designated time off were broadly seen as less committed and less promotable by their managers. 'There's significant literature on how people are evaluated differently based on things like age, ethnicity, and gender, and we didn't really find any of that,' Buechel says. 'I can comfortably say this [detachment] penalty has equal, if not more significance than those other worker-related biases.' Give me a break With work-related stress and burnout rates on the rise, employees need more time to rest and recover, but research suggests they're getting less of it. According to a recent survey of 2,000 American workers conducted by book summary app Headway, two-thirds of workers struggle to switch off on vacation, and more than half have experienced conflicts with loved ones over their inability to unplug while away. 'Just 4% of workers are left alone on vacation; the rest get bombarded with emails, messages, and calls,' says Thalia-Maria Tourikis, a health coach and burnout prevention and recovery expert for Headway. 'Workers are encouraged to take time off, then pestered with emails and messages the moment they do, to the point of guilt, anxiety, insomnia, and burnout.' Thanks to technology, there are few physical barriers between employees and their increasingly digital workplaces. As a result, Tourikis says, many struggle to mentally detach from work, even when they're far from the office. 'Taking time off shouldn't feel like a sin,' she says. 'If we want to be healthier and happier, we have to stop glorifying constant availability and start respecting annual leave.' Small breaks can make a big difference Vacations have traditionally been considered an employee indulgence that came at the expense of their employers, but new research suggests the benefits are mutual, and more significant than previously understood. 'The prevailing assumption was vacation offers small benefits for well-being, and they fade quickly when you get back to work,' says Ryan Grant, a doctoral student in psychology at the University of Georgia who recently coauthored a meta-analysis on vacations and employee well-being. 'We found the benefits were pretty huge.' Grant explains that the energizing effects of time off are actually 85% greater than previously suggested, and those effects persisted much longer, fading gradually over an average of about 43 days. According to the study, the most significant factor in determining the size and longevity of that post-vacation well-being boost was the ability to detach from work while away. 'It was the only recovery activity that had a strong positive association with well-being both during and after the vacation,' Grant says. 'That suggests the more you psychologically detach during vacation—the less you check your email, communicate with coworkers, and just think about work generally—the better your vacation is going to be, and the larger your well-being benefits are going to be after.' Detachment offers a win-win for employees and managers But this isn't just about enjoying that week in the sun or on the slopes. When workers can fully detach from work, their employers often benefit in the form of higher employee morale, resilience, and productivity, as well as lower healthcare costs, absenteeism, and turnover rates. '[Managers] are trying to improve the organization's bottom line and improve employee performance, but not allowing people the time to detach and recover directly opposes that goal,' Grant says. 'They're actually doing things that run directly counter to what they're trying to accomplish.' While the occasional late-night email or Saturday phone call may seem inconsequential in the moment, Grant says such actions leave workers in constant fear of having their downtime interrupted, making it harder to fully recharge while away from work. 'In the short term, you're like, 'Well, I need this thing done today, so I'm going to email my subordinate and say I want them to do this thing tonight,'' he says. 'But if you look at things in the longer term, the more you're not allowing people to detach on a daily basis, the more the negative effects on their health and performance are going to increase over time.'
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
TDF opens registration for fourth cohort of 'Tourism Olou' graduate program
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has announced the opening of registration for the fourth edition of its flagship 'Tourism Olou' program, a premier graduate training initiative designed to attract exceptional Saudi talent from top local and international universities. The program aims to equip graduates with the skills and experience needed to build successful careers in Saudi Arabia's fast-growing tourism sector, a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030. Delivered in partnership with IE University in Spain, the program combines on-the-job training with structured academic and professional development. Participants benefit from a unique blend of theoretical learning and practical application, ensuring they are prepared to meet the evolving needs of both local and global tourism markets. Commenting on the launch of the fourth cohort, TDF CEO Qusai Al-Fakhri said: 'The Tourism Olou program reflects TDF's unwavering commitment to empowering young Saudi talent and fostering a tourism ecosystem led by Saudi women and men. Through this initiative, we continue to invest in minds and skills, in partnership with world-class educational and training institutions, to nurture a generation that will contribute meaningfully to the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030. We take pride in the achievements of previous cohorts and remain confident that the growth of tourism in Saudi Arabia is driven by the passion and determination of its people.' Participants in the program receive a comprehensive set of benefits designed to prepare them for the workforce. These include immersive, hands-on training at TDF headquarters, specialized development courses delivered both in the Kingdom and abroad at leading global academic and training centers, social insurance enrollment, comprehensive medical coverage, monthly rewards, paid annual leave, and opportunities to contribute to strategic projects in the tourism sector. The program is open to graduates from the following majors: finance, accounting, business administration, information technology, tourism, and engineering. The Tourism Olou program is part of a broader suite of initiatives launched by TDF to help deliver the National Tourism Strategy and stimulate investment in the sector by developing a pipeline of highly skilled Saudi professionals. These programs aim to ensure that the Kingdom continues to strengthen its position as a premier global tourism destination by empowering its most valuable asset, its people. About the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) is Saudi Arabia's national enabler of the tourism sector, going beyond financing to drive high-impact investments and enhance the competitiveness of the Saudi's tourism destinations. TDF enables entrepreneurs and tourism businesses with tailored financial solutions and non-financial support programs while attracting local and international investors to develop landmark tourism projects. With a vision to create a dynamic and attractive investment environment, TDF fosters strategic partnerships, supports economic diversification, enriches visitor experiences, and strengthens Saudi Arabia's position as a leading global tourism destination. Committed to advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Tourism Strategy, TDF remains a trusted partner, working closely with investors and key stakeholders across the sector. For media inquiries, please contact TDF Corporate Communication team: cc@
Arab News
07-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi program to train future tourism leaders
RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund has opened applications for its fourth leadership training program, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. The Tourism Oluo Program is a key initiative to attract talented university graduates from local and international institutions for careers in the sector, a vital part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan. Implemented with Spain's IE University, the program equips graduates with hands-on training aligned to local and global tourism market needs, the SPA added. Participants will receive practical training at the fund's Riyadh headquarters and attend specialized courses in the Kingdom and abroad with leading academic and training institutions. The program provides social insurance, medical coverage, monthly stipends, paid annual leave, and opportunities to contribute to strategic tourism projects. Targeted fields include finance, accounting, business administration, information technology, and engineering, according to the report. This initiative supports the National Tourism Strategy's aims to meet evolving market demands and strengthen the Kingdom's position as a global destination.
Vogue
01-07-2025
- Business
- Vogue
These Designers Are Redefining Swimwear Through Sustainability
Swimwear is not an inherently sustainable category in fashion. The materials needed to make pieces that hold up in water and heat are made from fossil fuel-based fabrics like nylon and polyester. They are often produced at high volumes, with hundreds of billions of units created yearly, driven by quickly changing trends and tight margins. When these pieces aren't built to last beyond one season (which many are not), they break down, ultimately ending up in landfills or global second-hand markets. 'These materials carry a range of environmental impacts because they are produced from crude oil, from the release of microplastics to difficult end-of-life disposal, many of which currently lack viable solutions,' Michelle Gabriel, MS Sustainable Fashion Program Director at IE University in New York City, tells Vogue. The irony is that for swimwear to have a purpose, we need healthy water systems and a liveable climate. SIGALDuring PARAISO Miami Swim Week last month, dozens of designers put this needed shift at the forefront of their collections, consistently highlighting an understanding that sustainability is a baseline principle, not a marketing technique. And not all interpretations of sustainability were the same; while some incorporated artisan handwork and local manufacturing, others made a point to use recycled and bio-based materials and low-to-no-waste cut and sew techniques. Vitamin A founder Amahlia Stevens is considered to be a pioneer in the swimwear category, particularly for her focus on impact. The brand, which was acquired by Swim USA in 2023, was innovating on materials ten years ago in ways that many other brands are still trying to chase today. Stevens explains that there are three things to consider when looking at sustainability in swim: materials and process innovation, communication and transparency, and giving back. This means third-party auditing of supply chains, localized production, and incorporating bio-based materials. Designer Leslie Amon understands this well. 'Sustainability isn't a trend, it's a commitment to responsibility, craftsmanship, and empowerment.' Her eponymous brand features both swim and resort, and this season her collection featured hand-beaded garments and accessories, and garments produced in small quantities, working with community-based manufacturing groups in India and Bali. '90% of our supply chain is women-led—because we believe that empowering women economically is one of the most impactful ways to foster sustainable development,' she says.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
The Spanish startup Lain Tech crowned winner of South Summit Madrid 2025
After three days marked by entrepreneurship and innovation, South Summit Madrid 2025, co-organised by IE University, concluded its fourteenth edition with the announcement of the winners of the Startup Competition. Lain Tech, a startup hailing from Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), is revolutionising mining with a sustainable electrochemical process to recover complex metals. The method reduces the carbon footprint by 94% and uses 100% electric energy. At the closing ceremony of the 14th edition of South Summit Madrid 2025, four other startups were also recognised: U.S.-based Bankuish, from Miami, was named 'Most Disruptive'; Chilean Hera Materials was awarded 'Most Sustainable'; and Catalan startups NeuralTrust and Remuner received the titles of 'Most Scalable', and the startup with the 'Best Team,' respectively. During the South Summit 2025 closing event, the award for the South Summit Kids Competition — organised in collaboration with Genyus School — was also presented to Alcaste - Las Fuentes School from Logroño (La Rioja) for its project Smart Cart, an intelligent shopping cart that organises purchases and provides useful product information. Under the theme 'In Motion', the event, co-organised by IE University, brought together more than 600 speakers, 150 investors, and 19 unicorns at La Nave in Madrid from June 4 to 6. The event was backed by the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, the Community of Madrid, and the Madrid City Council, along with sponsors such as Mutua Madrileña, Google for Startups, BBVA Spark, Wayra – Telefónica Innovation, and BStartup from Banco Sabadell. The president and founder of South Summit, María Benjumea, wanted to praise all the participating startups on the last day of the meeting with these words: 'The 100 finalists are champions. We have seen impressive projects these days, you are in charge of revolutionizing the world. You are not the future, you are the now'. Another of the highlights of the closing day was the session 'From Deep Tech Innovation to Scale Up', which was attended by Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General of Innovation of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; Manuel Escolano, Director of Open Innovation at Ferrovial; Esperanza Torralva, Director of Innovation at Moeves, and Natalia Álvarez, Head of Innovation at Repsol. During the meeting, public and private initiatives to promote technology transfer were presented, from funds such as Invest to open innovation projects or corporate investments in deep tech and sustainability. All the participants in this session agreed that innovation only scales when there is real and sustained collaboration between administration, companies, and knowledge centres. They also wanted to underline the importance of aligning technological developments with industrial and social needs, and of committing to co-creation models that integrate all actors from early stages. South Summit is the global platform that brings together all the actors in the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to promote the development of business opportunities among all of them. Its main event is South Summit Madrid, co-organized by IE University, which has seen more than 42,500 startups pass through its thirteen previous editions, while its Startup Competition, from which 9 unicorns have been born, has resulted in more than 1,000 finalist startups, with a survival rate of 90% and 17,000 million dollars in investment raised.
