Don’t take a vacation bogged down by work

If you feel like you can’t get a break from work, you’re not alone. Ninety-six percent of Americans check in with their offices several times during their vacations, according to a national consumer survey.

"Electronic leashes" such as beepers and cell phones have made it next to impossible to sever ties with the office.

Returning to piles of work and bulging in-bins has fueled a desire to make the transition from vacation to work an easier one.

Instead of spending your vacation working, it’s better to pre-determine when you’ll contact your office and place a strict limit on vacation time spent on business.

Try these tips:

•Starting from at least three weeks before you leave, prepare subordinates and upper level staff with continual reminders on a weekly basis.

Remember surprise and poor planning are the enemy of a relaxed and unstressed vacation.

•Delegate specific tasks to specific people. Make sure they all know their responsibilities.

•Assign a trusted person to handle all crisis and emergency matters.

•Designate one primary contact with the office so that you’re not contacting an entire staff.

•Do not broadcast your vacation number to the entire staff if you don’t want to be disturbed on mundane matters.

•Create a specific time when you’ll be available for emergencies and stick to it (i.e., you’ll take calls each day at noon).

•Let bosses know that if you’re called and are "on the clock" reimbursement in the form or additional time off, a vacation extension or salary is appropriate.

•Program your e-mail, work telephone and pager to send an immediate reply stating that you’re on vacation and will respond upon your return. Be sure to give the name of the contact person in your office who’ll handle crucial correspondence in your absence.

•Have a trusted peer manage your in-bin and delegate work for you.

Offer this service to him or her when they take their next vacation.