50% of Brits Feel ‘Too Holiday Shamed’ to Take a Break from Work
For most Brits, a holiday is something they can look forward to – a chance to break away from the realities of everyday life and spend some more time relaxing. So, how come 44% of UK employees didn’t use their full holiday allowance last year?
To uncover what’s happening to Brits holidays, tombola have surveyed the nation to uncover the real reason Brits are choosing the boardroom over a break.
In 2018, 44% of Brits Failed to Use Their Full Annual Leave
Despite these studies, Brits are overworking themselves. tombola’s research uncovered that 44% of survey respondents chose not to use their full holiday allowance last year. Of this, 23% of workers still had 5 days remaining – meaning that almost a quarter of Brits worked a full week for free and missed out on a week’s holiday.
It’s not just taking time off that’s the problem though – but also the length of the holiday. When taking annual leave, only a quarter (24%) of Brits took a break that lasted between 6 and 10 days in one go. In comparison, 20% of Brits took up to 3 days off in a row.
These results are concerning as the previous evidence by Professor Tim Strandburg and Harvard Economist Juliet Schor revealed that longer breaks can extend your life.
50% of Brits Feel ‘Too Shamed’ To Take a Break from Work
But why is that Brits are no longer enjoying the privilege of a paid holiday? tombola’s research revealed the top 6 reasons why:
1. Too busy at work – 38%
2. Had nowhere to go – 23%
3. Don’t need that much of holiday – 19%
4. Enjoys work too much – 8%
5. Boss doesn’t approve their holiday – 7%
6. Colleagues would feel like they weren’t contributing – 5%
When you consider that UK employees are too busy at work (38%), their bosses not approving their holiday (7%) and peer pressure from colleagues (5%), it shows that 50% of Brits feel too ‘holiday shamed’ to take a from work.
44% of Brits Check Their Emails Whilst on Holiday
If that wasn’t bad enough, the research also found that working on holiday is becoming expected of breaks during their much-needed breaks. 1 in 3 Brits (33%) have been contacted by their workplace whilst away, and a further 44% of Brits admit that they have checked their emails whilst away.
It’s safe to say that the digital world has made our lives more connected in many ways.
An “office” can now be anytime, anyplace as all you need is your mobile device and an Internet connection. Whilst this can bring numerous benefits, it’s becoming increasingly harder to ‘switch off’ which is essential for living longer. So, if you’re thinking that working more yields better results – you’re heading down the wrong path.
It’s important to take time to relax and rejuvenate. So, isn’t it time you booked yourself a holiday?
© New To HR
