Do you work while on holiday? Or do you take the opportunity to fully switch off?
This is a debate my husband and I have nearly every time we go away. While I’m very much of the opinion that holidays are a time for disconnecting from work and being present with family and friends, he prefers to log in at least once a day to clear emails and ensure he is aware of any issues that may arise in his absence. His argument is that he then feels fully prepared when he returns to work. Personally, I prefer to live in blissful ignorance for a week or two, knowing that I can deal with anything that arises when I return to work and avoid the potential for stress while I’m on leave.
Of course, there are instances when my team has contacted me while I’ve been away, and I’m happy for them to do so on occasion, however, these tend to be far and few between.
According to research published by HR software firm Breathe last year, 57% of the 1,000 employees surveyed admitted to working either sometimes or often while on annual leave. Gen Z (those aged between 18 and 24 years) were the most likely to do so, with three-quarters of respondents from this group saying this was the case.
Worryingly, just 37% of all respondents said their employer encourages them to fully disconnect while on annual leave.
Now that it is easier than ever to work from anywhere, it is easy to understand why so many choose to check their email or make a quick call while on holiday. However, these can easily escalate into getting pulled into more involved tasks. Research published by the Movchan Agency in 2024 found that 59% found it hard to switch off from work while on holiday and 63% feel anxious if they do not check their work-related messages while on annual leave.
While 34% of those that choose to work on holiday do so simply because they love their job, 38% do so because they have no one to delegate tasks to, 29% because they are afraid of losing their job and 26% because their boss demands it.
These statistics indicate much wider issues within organisations. Employees should feel free to take time away from work to recharge and spend time with loved ones without fear of repercussions when they return.
Indeed, working without adequate time off can lead to serious health-related issues that will come back to bite individuals and their employer further down the line. The aforementioned Movchan Agency research, for example, found 70% of respondents had experienced mental health issues as a result of overworking, while two-thirds had experienced physical health issues, such as chronic pain and a weakened immune system, as a result.
What better reason is there to step away from your phone and laptop, and relax?
Those who choose not to work while on annual leave should not be seen as any less committed to their employer and role. Rather, that time away from work can mean they return feeling refreshed and raring to go.
Debbie Lovewell-Tuck
Editor
@DebbieLovewell
