News

Listen closely among the corporate cubicles these days, and instead of clacking keyboards and ringing phones you may hear the sounds of crickets chirping or a lonesome coyote's howl.

Canadian businesses have sailed smack into the middle of the summer doldrums, and anyone with vacation time has either gotten the heck out of town or is laying low in the backyard, refreshing beverage in hand.

But what about the working stiffs holding down the fort, usually junior staffers saving scant vacation time for the holidays, while everyone else is off gallivanting in the sun with nary a care for those left toiling beneath the fluorescent lights?

Not that we - I mean they - are bitter or anything.

Office environments assume a curious vibe in August - empty, hushed, rather peaceful if you like that sort of thing.

There's the "running with scissors" feeling of freedom when all the bosses are away. It's a great opportunity for both slackers, who get to take it easy, and strivers, who can take on more responsibility in their co-workers' absences.

"Looking around, I see two other people in a row that normally holds nine," says Tim Garrett, an account manager at a telecom company in Winnipeg who hasn't taken vacation since January.

"I hear others on the phone - some of whom seem to be on personal calls," Mr. Garrett writes in an e-mail. "It will get quieter as the afternoon wears on - people disappear earlier in the day during July and August. It is a ghost town at 4 p.m. On a Friday, more like 2 p.m."

Because he's in sales, Mr. Garrett has targets he must meet no matter how nice the weather is. He doesn't mind the quiet, using the opportunity to catch up on his filing and take walks at lunch.

"There are, however, the people who become slightly disconcerted in a quiet office and they seem to need to talk to someone," Mr. Garrett says. "They tell me about a new car they bought in Fargo, [N.D.] or the dog's thyroid condition or their kid's lacrosse coach who has been ordered to take sensitivity training ... all I can do is nod and try not to let the eyes glaze over."

On the bright side, if you walk into some businesses these days, you may get really enthusiastic service - because the employees are desperate for a break in the monotony.

"We check the Government of Canada website for weather updates, clean our money in our drawers, and try and keep customers here for as long as possible to chat," says Claire Traversy, a summer student teller at a credit union in Thunder Bay. "Cleaning" money means taking ripped and battered bills out of circulation. Aside from that, Ms. Traversy says, the most exciting part of her day is watching storms roll in over Lake Superior.

Summer students and recent graduates make up a disproportionate share of the work force this month. It's a bit unnerving if you stop to think about Canada's economy being run by 18- to 24-year-olds in August, but for keen young workers summer has more to offer than lazy days at the office.

Angela Gaw started work in an accounting firm after graduating from college, and she has watched the office numbers dwindle over the summer. She is taking advantage of the lull to learn.

"I am able to get more undivided attention from my superiors," Ms. Gaw says. "It has been a good chance to ease into this new field of work without the usual pressure and constant multitasking that would occur during a busier time."

Of course, lack of attention from supervisors is exactly what some more seasoned workers like about the summer time. One Globe reader, who preferred to remain anonymous, never takes vacations in the summer precisely for that reason:

"Fewer co-workers in the office means there are: 1. Fewer managers to interfere with my day since they're all on vacation; 2. Fewer people to make ridiculous demands on my time (see No. 1)."

Not everyone is so thrilled to be alone in the office. An Ipsos Reid poll conducted in March for travel company Expedia surveyed 2,000 Canadians and found that 33 per cent identify themselves as vacation deprived, and 42 per cent say they've felt vacation envy.

"There's a little bit of resentment," says Karen Sencich, a professional organizer with a background in corporate Canada. "The younger generation has all the plans, and they sort of envy the older ones who have four, five, six weeks off and plan to do nothing."

Little things such as e-mail auto responders can unwittingly stoke vacation envy. Ms. Sencich says it's best not to get too specific.

"I will be out of the office until Sept. 1" is preferable to "I will be in Paris until Sept. 1 [touring Europe and having amazing experiences while you're chained to your desk, sucker]"

Ms. Traversy doesn't suffer from vacation envy, as she knew what she was getting into when she signed on to work at the credit union this summer. Still, her regular customers' glowing tans remind her of what she's missing - at least until her contract ends and she heads to her family's cottage at the end of the summer.

In the meantime, she tries to follow her own advice for vacation-deprived souls during the office doldrums: "Don't look outside."