Do you check work emails when you’re supposed to be on holiday? Do you limit the number of days you take off at one time or even forfeit your annual leave altogether?  

“A new survey from Nat West Premier has revealed a worrying picture about our inability or unwillingness to switch off from work,” says Paulina Zatorska, HR and Compliance Officer at Impellus. 

  • Only 45% of UK employees take their full annual leave entitlement. 
  • The overall average number of days taken off has dropped from 38 in 2020 to 33.9 in 2023. 
  • 42% of Britons check their emails or carry out work-related tasks while they are supposed to be on holiday. 
  • Of those earning over £100,000 a year, 66% work while on holiday, sometimes for as long as three days over a typical week’s break. For those earning between £15,000 and £100,000, the average time spent is 2.5 days over a week's leave.  

 Some of the reasons given included worry about the high cost of holidays; anxiety about falling behind at work; and an inability to plan time off due to heavy workloads. 

“Giving up annual leave or working while away can lead to a serious work/life imbalance affecting personal relationships and causing stress and other mental health issues, physical ill health, and career burnout,” says Paulina. 

“Taking regular breaks and strictly work-free holidays should not be seen as a dispensable luxury. Downtime is vital to stay mentally and physically healthy, and to create a sustainable and fulfilling working life.” 

Setting a good example 

 “Line managers should always set a good example when it comes to creating a healthy work/life balance,” says Paulina. “They should always take their full annual leave entitlement as well as any lieu days owing. And they should definitely not be emailing with their team or liaising about work projects while they are off. 

“By setting a positive example, team members will be encouraged to do the same and will not feel morally obliged or emotionally blackmailed to sacrifice time off or keep in touch with work while away.” 

Employees who take regular breaks will be physically and mentally healthier and more able to maintain a positive and motivated approach to their work leading to increased productivity and greater focus and creativity. This can only have a positive impact on the overall performance of any organisation. 

How to be holiday-positive  

  • Have a clear written policy in place stating that all annual leave must be taken in the current annual leave year.  
  • Minimise the number of days, if any, that can be carried over. 
  • Strongly discourage your team members from staying in touch about work or dealing with work emails while they are off. Create a clear ‘no contact’ policy to stress that this is not expected or approved of. 
  • Create a culture where complete breaks from work are viewed as positive, both for the individual and for the organisation. 
  • Make sure your team members are using all their annual leave and remind anyone who doesn’t seem to be planning a break or booking any days off. Always lead by example.  
  • Ensure the process for booking annual leave is simple and straightforward. 
  • Make sure your team members know that adequate cover will be in place while they are away This will help conscientious employees to feel less guilty or stressed about taking time off. 

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