Holiday working stress warning

A new survey of small to medium sized businesses around the UK has shown that employees are finding it difficult to completely tear themselves away from the office, even when they’re on annual leave.

The survey by Euroffice.co.uk, an office supplier, asked 549 office workers across the UK if they’ll be contacting the office while on holiday this summer. More than one in three (35%) said yes. Of those, the majority (38%) said they will check in just “a few times” throughout their entire holiday. However, 22% admitted they will be touching base once a day with a further 8% going so far as to contact the office several times a day.

Their reasons for checking in are largely related to an inability to switch off – 56% admitting they will be contacting the office because “staying on top of things makes returning from holiday easier”. One in five (21%) simply confessed they “just can’t disconnect completely from work”.

Simon Drakeford, group CEO of Euroffice, commented: “Our survey reveals that many diligent office workers are finding it increasingly difficult to leave their work behind and relax while taking their annual leave. Ultimately, the extra stress will begin to take its toll – and this can negatively affect employees as well as the business.”