A majority (81%) of UK employees revealed that they notice increasing feelings of burnout, exhaustion, or poor mental health when they cannot take time off work, according to new research by Breathe.
The HR platform for small to medium-sized businesses surveyed 1,000 UK working adults aged 18-65 and found that 25-34 year olds are the most likely age group to be suffering the effects of burnout. Almost half (46%) of respondents in this age group strongly agreed that not taking time off affects their mental health, with 31% more likely to take sick or unpaid leave days when their allowance has been used up.
Two-thirds (65%) are not using their full annual leave allowance, with 17% having five or more unused holiday days per year on average. Two-fifths (41%) said the biggest reason for why they were not taking holiday was staff shortages, followed by a desire to reclaim or sell back holiday (33%), and worries that it reflect badly on their performance (26%).
When asked to compare the amount of holiday they take now to five years ago, 32% take less now due to worries around job security, while 14% admitted that their organisation does not encourage time off.
Almost half (48%) of those under 34 have three days or more of unused annual leave, rising to 52% for those under 24, with 20% leaving five or more days. One-third (36%) cite staff shortages as the reason they do not take their full holiday allowance, while 28% are too busy.
Gareth Burrows, managing director at Breathe, said: “The trend towards employees not taking their full annual leave entitlement is concerning and something that we know HR leaders will be watching closely. With burnout and mental health issues on the rise, it’s crucial for businesses leaders to monitor stress levels within their teams and foster a culture where employees feel safe and supported in taking their full annual leave allocation.”
