As millions of Americans fire up their grills and prepare to watch fireworks for July 4th, a familiar scene will play out in parallel. HR leaders will be sneaking a look at their phone, refreshing email between dipping chips and appearing half-present at the picnic table while fully present in their inbox.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that disconnecting during a holiday weekend should be easy, but it’s not.
According to Hogan Assessments, whose personality science tools are used by more than 75% of the Fortune 500, the struggle to step away from work isn’t about dedication or discipline. It’s wired into specific personality characteristics that shape how people relate to responsibility, achievement, control and uncertainty.
Which type of overworker are you this July 4th?
HR Executive used insights from Hogan Assessments to (playfully!) map the personalities of our readers. Before you address that nagging notification poolside, consider which founding father of overwork you are.
Read more: As burnout rises, leaders should think twice before cutting flexibility
The Patriot
This person feels personally accountable for every outcome, detail and potential error, even on days off. The Patriot can’t fully relax because something might go wrong in their absence, and that possibility is louder than any fireworks display. For HR leaders in this category, the anxiety of stepping away often outweighs the relief of rest.
The empath
The team at Hogan Assessments says this one is common in HR, healthcare, education and other people-centric fields. The Empath may physically leave the office, but never quite mentally clocks out. Concern for employees, teams or communities follows them home and into the holiday.
The Maverick
Driven by ambition and a constant forward momentum, the Maverick worries that slowing down means falling behind. Missing an opportunity, losing an edge or simply not being productive enough during a long weekend can feel like a small failure. Rest, for this type, tends to feel unearned, even when exhaustion is telling them otherwise.
The Overseer
This person struggles to delegate and trusts that things are being handled correctly only when they are the one handling them. The Overseer checks in “just in case,” and often finds a reason to stay looped in. The challenge here is less about fear of missing out and more about the identity tied to being in control.
‘Rest isn’t a luxury’
“After a full year of pressure and constant demands, disconnecting should feel natural — but for many people, it actually creates anxiety,” says Dr. Ryne Sherman, chief science officer at Hogan Assessments. “When achievement, control or responsibility are closely tied to identity, vacation can feel like losing a part of who you are.”
Many HR execs spend the year coaching managers on the value of rest, the risks of burnout and the importance of modeling healthy boundaries, and then proceed to ignore all of it the moment a long weekend arrives.
Hogan’s research points to a few practical moves that may help:
- Planning workloads before a break reduces anxiety for those who catastrophize details.
- Clear delegation frameworks give Overseers a structure to release control without feeling reckless.
- Setting explicit tech boundaries supports the Mavericks who stay connected out of habit rather than necessity.
- And for those who tie productivity to self-worth, reframing rest as a professional requirement rather than a reward can shift the calculus enough to unplug.
“Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s essential for sustainable effectiveness,” Sherman says. “Understanding your own characteristics allows you to disconnect without guilt and return with clarity, energy and focus.”
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