August 21, 2025
Quiet Vacations Are the Work Hack Nobody’s Talking About
This summer, sneaky getaways are on the rise. According to a new ResumeBuilder.com survey of 1,200 full-time U.S. employees, 41% admit they’ve already taken a “quiet vacation” in 2025, and nearly as many (39%) say they’ve already done so or plan to sneak one in before the season ends. The trend is especially common among younger workers and high-level executives.
Gen Z is leading the charge, as 66% of workers in this generation confessed to slipping away without officially requesting time off. Executives aren’t far behind, with 65% saying they’ve taken an under-the-radar break this year. And interestingly, those who work fully in-person were most likely of all to indulge, with every single one surveyed admitting they had taken a secret vacation in 2025.
“Executives often have the flexibility to step away discreetly, while Gen Z workers are more likely to find creative ways to stay connected while traveling or taking time off,” says Chief Career Advisor Stacie Haller. “Many employees feel they don’t receive enough vacation days and want to save them. In-office workers may also be quiet vacationing as a way to push back against the lack of remote or hybrid options.”
Why Do Employees Opt for Stealth Mode?
The top reason is strategic, as 33% said they’re saving vacation days for later. Others worry that stepping away might make them look less committed (14%) or prefer not to use their PTO at all (13%). Some have financial motives, like banking on unused PTO payouts (12%), while others cite fear of rejection, anxiety about asking, or even concerns about layoffs.
But “quiet vacationing” doesn’t always mean disappearing completely. In fact, most employees keep up the appearance of working. Three out of four quiet vacationers reported maintaining their normal work presence, with many answering emails (69%), replying to chat messages (60%), taking calls (54%), or even attending video meetings (49%) from afar. Some go high-tech in their cover-ups, with nearly a third using tools to dodge monitoring software and 28% leaning on AI to keep productivity afloat. Notably, almost two-thirds of those who joined virtual meetings while away hid their location with a background filter.
Despite the secrecy, not everyone got away clean. More than a third (37%) of quiet vacationers said their employer eventually found out. Consequences varied: some lost out on promotions (30%), raises (27%), or key projects (29%), while 16% say the fallout was as severe as losing their job. Even so, more than half admit they don’t feel guilty about sneaking in some hidden downtime.
