Episode 223 - Occupational Safety - Take your vacation and recharge

Dr. Ayers delivers a short but important reminder: safety professionals need to take their vacation time and truly recharge. The work will still be there when you return — but you will come back clearer, calmer, and more effective.

  🧠 Key Themes 1. Burnout Hurts Safety Performance

Dr. Ayers emphasizes that when safety leaders push nonstop:

• Decision‑making suffers

• Patience decreases

• Communication becomes strained

• Small issues feel bigger than they are

Rest isn’t a luxury — it’s a performance requirement.

  2. The Work Will Still Be There

A central message of the episode: You are not abandoning your responsibilities by taking time off. Safety work is continuous, and stepping away briefly doesn’t derail progress.

  3. Recharging Makes You a Better Leader

Vacation time helps you return with:

• Fresh perspective

• Renewed energy

• Better emotional bandwidth

• More creativity and patience

This directly improves how you show up for employees.

  4. Model Healthy Behavior

Employees watch what leaders do. If you never take time off:

• They assume they shouldn’t either

• They feel guilty requesting PTO

• Burnout spreads through the culture

Taking vacation is a leadership signal.

  🚀 Leadership Takeaways

• Rest is a safety strategy.

• Your team needs a leader who is present, not exhausted.

• Taking vacation models healthy boundaries.

• Recharging improves clarity, patience, and decision‑making.