To add to this, I think it would be a worse sign for the company if they have a number of people in such a critical path, that they can never take significant t

To add to this, I think it would be a worse sign for the company if they have a number of people in such a critical path, that they can never take significant time off. If you're doing your job well as a leader (and an organization), you have people who can fill in for you.