Apr 10 2026
Amanda DeMatteis: Hi, Josh.
Josh Goodbaum: Hi, Amanda. What are we talking about today?
DeMatteis: We’re talking about vacation, Josh! I am joining you today from Walt Disney World – can anybody guess what resort I’m at?
I’m on vacation, it’s Spring Break across the country, and many working parents are going away with their families and having a lot of fun in the sun. But, like me, they also need to work.
So, I’m here, and I’m in full-blown Disney mom mode with my Disney mug, my MagicBand, and kids running around out there somewhere. But I’m still a lawyer, I have clients to represent, and I have things that need to be done.
It really got me thinking: What should working parents like me do and know about working when they’re out of the office on vacation? What are the dos and don’ts, Josh? Tell us!
Goodbaum: Great question, Amanda, and this isn’t just an issue for working parents. So many working people are either choosing to work while they’re on vacation or having to work while they’re on vacation. If that’s you, and you are working while you’re away on vacation, here are three best practices to keep in mind:
Number one: Security, both digital and physical. If you bring your work laptop with you, make sure that you’re using secure WiFi. Use all of the security measures necessary to ensure that you’re not compromising your employer’s most confidential information. That goes not just for your computer, but for your calls. If you’re having a call about something confidential, don’t take it from the bar or the pool. Find a private place that you can talk – maybe that’s your hotel room. And if you’re sitting in a restaurant or a café working on your laptop, make sure that nobody can look over your shoulder and steal your employer’s trade secrets. So, security, number one.
Number two: Remain professional. You’re on vacation, but you’re still working, and everybody else is going to expect you to have a certain level of decorum while you’re working, so create limits. It’s fine for you to drink on vacation, it’s fine for you to get drunk if you’re an adult, but don’t get drunk and then take a work call! You want to make sure that, if you’re in work mode – if you’re talking with colleagues, customers, or clients – you are in an appropriate state of mind and an appropriate place to conduct your business, even though you are on vacation.
Number three: Log your time, and get credit for your work. If you are an hourly or non-exempt worker, this is essential because you’re not going to get paid for the time you work unless you log that time and tell your employer about it. This also goes for professionals who have clients who pay them on an hourly basis. If you’re a lawyer or an accountant or a business advisor or really anybody who bills clients on an hourly basis, you want to make sure that you’re logging that time in your timekeeping system and including it in your invoices. It’s often not easy to record your time when you’re away from the office, but if you’re going to work while you’re on vacation, you might as well get paid for it.
So, those are three best practices, but I’ll add a fourth, Amanda, that’s not really about the law; it’s mostly about your mental health. That is: If you’re taking a vacation, take a vacation. There’s a tremendous correlation between actual time off from work and improved physical and mental health – reducing stress, lowering the risk of heart disease, decreasing burnout. You should take vacations. You should enjoy them. And the more stressful your job is, the more true that is. So, if you’re on vacation, take actual time off. Make sure that you create boundaries for yourself, and that you find the time to unwind, to relax, and to put work out of your mind. No matter how much you enjoy your work, you still need time away from it.
DeMatteis: That is such critical advice, Josh. Find a way that works for you. When I’m away on vacation, I always work in the morning. I clear yesterday’s emails. I make sure that I’m ready from a work standpoint and that everything is as organized as I want it to be. So then I can go out, and I can enjoy my day with my husband, my kids, or whomever I’m on vacation with.
So, thank you so much for watching. Enjoy your Spring Break! And we’ll see you next time.
Posted by Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald & Pirrotti, P.C. in Commentary
Tagged Amanda DeMatteis, Joshua Goodbaum
