The summer breeze is beginning to fall. The holidays are coming to an end. People in the Northern Hemisphere are beginning to return to work. On the other hand, many political leaders are going on vacation. They claim that if they go on vacation for a few days, they can overcome boredom and come back to work again with new enthusiasm. They think that they will be able to return to work more attentively after the vacation than those who are busy with continuous work without taking leave.
But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is an exception among them. He decided to cancel his summer vacation considering the need to deal with the ongoing riot situation across the country and restore law and order situation.
Starmer’s decision stands in stark contrast to former UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab. When the Taliban overran Kabul in Afghanistan in 2021 and British workers there were left in limbo, Raab went on holiday in Greece instead of work. His decision caused widespread displeasure among the people of the UK and he later regretted going on holiday.
In some countries it is practically forbidden for politicians to go on holiday. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is almost unthinkable for a minister to take a week or two off in India. On the other hand, it is surprising to note the tendency of leaders to spend holidays in secret in China.
Those who do not support leaders going on leave argue that leaders are put in the chair to serve the country and not for their personal comfort. They think that leaders should be on duty 24 hours a day, so that they can be an example to others. They think that when a major event happens in the country, it is very necessary to at least be at their workplace.
In August 2022, when unprecedented wildfires ravaged France, the country’s president, Emmanuel Machon, was spending his vacation at Fort de Bregnan. At the time, he came under fire after pictures of him spending time on a jet ski were published. When many working people do not have time off or can’t afford to go on vacation, unnecessary travel by any leader is considered unpatriotic and often criticized.
When public officials like US Supreme Court justices are seen flying private jets to luxury resorts and paying for those trips to a third party, it inevitably evokes a perception of corruption.
Some, however, argue that leaders should be allowed to spend time with their families. Another argument that advocates for leaders taking time off is that time off can help leaders improve their decision-making skills. A 2023 study found that holidays ‘significantly improve’ the accuracy of capital market analysts’ financial forecasts. Research suggests that the fatigue associated with continuous decision-making causes a noticeable decline in performance.
A 2019 study found that as hospital nurses continue to work intermittently, their decisions become increasingly rough and less effective. Studies have also shown that medical systems benefit from surgeons taking time off.
More broadly, taking a break from work is beneficial for mental and physical health. Because, temporary leave increases productivity. This is why most national and international labor laws prescribe regular leave.
The same thing works for political leaders. People depend on them to deal with unexpected crises that arise before the country, to perceive and take into account new information, to assess the impact of policies and to take tough decisions. A calm mind is needed to make the right decision with discretion in these matters. And for a slow brain, they need to take a break from time to time. The more tired a leader becomes, the more prone they are to making erratic decisions, which will continue to undermine their ability to govern effectively.
