A study of 2000 people, created by online learning platform ELVTR shows that 1 in 4 get asked to check their emails while on vacation, and 24% are bombarded by work-related text messages while away. Another 17% are bothered by email, and 23% via socials or phone calls during their break. In addition, 1 in 3 feel an implicit expectation to work through vacations.
As a result, two-thirds of Britons continue to work on vacations and half of them upset their partners or travel companions by doing so. The research shows 49% feel anxious if they don’t check their work emails while away and 44% struggle to switch off during their downtime.
Viktor Grekov, business productivity expert and founder of the OKR Software company Oboard, said that such pattern is detrimental for both employees and their employers: “Sacrificing personal time to maintain job security is a common occurrence during financial crises. However, this can have devastating consequences for both employees and employers. Short term, workers suffer from increased stress and health issues, reduced productivity and, subsequently, fewer growth opportunities. Long term, innovation is stifled with the workforce focused on its own problems, turnover rates skyrocket as workers seek better work-life balance elsewhere, and employers get a reputation for disrupting their employees’ personal time — and these issues will continue to impact businesses long after economic conditions improve. When faced with immediate challenges, businesses cannot lose sight of their long-term goals. Encouraging employees to sacrifice their personal time won’t save your business… You’re simply delaying the productivity loss.”
When asked if they would bother their vacationing team members, 1 in 3 admitted they bother their vacationing colleagues: 14% by text messages, 12% via social media or phone calls, and 11% by email.
As a result, this lack of work-life balance takes a toll on the workers’ well–being: 73% feel guilt when working on vacations, and 37% feel guilt if they don’t.
Viktor added his top tips on how companies can promote healthier corporate culture: “Businesses should make clear that they do not condone encroaching on employees’ time off by putting comprehensive policies and procedures in place regarding absences. While having no one to delegate tasks to is the biggest cause of overworking, with a comprehensive strategy and system in place to ensure entire teams are working towards the same goals, there is no reason why one person’s absence should cause progress to ground to a halt.
The responsibility then falls on managers to lead by example. Take your vacation, make clear who to contact in your absence, set your boundaries before you leave, and offer the same respect to your colleagues when they’re away.
For teams that find it difficult to disconnect, company-wide holidays and half days can provide relief. With entire teams away from the office, there’s far less chance of unwanted interruption.
Of course, businesses should always keep an eye on the numbers and rework their policies if productivity is in free fall. However, denying employees a break is never a sustainable solution — unless your company-wide goal is mass burnout and unending delays”
The recession and economic downturn have their impact as well: 35% are taking less time off and 12% won’t be able to take vacations at all due to understaffing following company layoffs. In fact, having no one to delegate their work to is the main reason to work on vacation at 39%, while 5% are afraid to lose their job.
Roman Peskin, co-founder and CEO of ELVTR, added: “Alarmingly, workers are being pushed to the brink, with many sacrificing their well-deserved vacations and downtime in the name of productivity. It’s high time we hit the ‘pause’ button on this relentless race. We at ELVTR urge employers and employees alike to join forces in tackling this work-life balance crisis head-on and let’s transform the way we approach time off. After all, a rested mind is a creative and effective one!”
You can find the full study here.