Afraid of Taking Vacation Days? Westin's Tool May Help Your PTO-Phobia

It's been widely reported that Americans can be vacation phobes -- but this fun campaign from Westin Hotels, created by BBH New York and publishing house McSweeney's, may help to encourage them to take those days of rest to which they're entitled. At the heart of the "You Need Better Vacation Days" effort is an online tool, the Westin Out of Office Generator, which will turn the details of your upcoming holiday into a humorous, preprogrammed message reminding those who try to intrude on your R&R that you're taking some time off to become human again -- whether you're doing it on the beach, on the slopes or by just plain sinking into a giant fluffy bed. The messages, written in the witty, literary style for which McSweeney's publications are known, offer its users funny, tactful ways to inform others of their absence, while also giving a nod to amenities afforded at Westin resorts. One example: Thanks so much for the email. Unfortunately, I'll be out of the office from 10/26 until 10/30. Although I must say, "out of the office" doesn't even begin to describe where I am -- I mean, the waiting room at the DMV is "out of the office," but they don't offer four kinds of massage and three separate pools at the DMV, you know? Anyway, just trying to give you the fullest possible picture. So yes, I'm most definitely "out of the office" this week, but I'm also "out of worries," and "out of reach," and "in one of several nearby pools." Check in with johndoe@johndoe.com while I'm gone. Cheers, Dan The online tool also allows users to create a shortened, video version of their notes for sharing on Facebook or Twitter, making it what the agency claims to be the "first social media OOO message creator."

Afraid of Taking Vacation Days? Westin's Tool May Help Your PTO-Phobia

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