For the majority of workers, taking a holiday from the office is always a major highlight of the year. Whether the break is used to go on a foreign holiday or simply relax at home, they can return to work feeling refreshed and better able to cope with the tasks set for them.
Yet a new study has shown that British workers are now struggling to “switch off” from office mode more than ever, meaning that many now tend to turn relaxing breaks into working holidays. In a poll conducted by Ipsos and Accor hotels subsidiary brand Pullman, it was found that 86 per cent of hotel-staying, seasoned travellers choose to take their work mobile phone on holiday with them, while 40 per cent go a step further and take a laptop in order to keep an eye on business emails.
Furthermore, a massive 90 per cent of those questioned admitted to either drafting up work documents or sending emails to business contacts in the evenings – clearly demonstrating how thin the line between work and leisure has become.
The poll surveyed the opinions of 2,252 workers from seven countries with regards to their working habits whilst on holiday. All were aged between 25 and 65 and chose to stay in mid-range and upmarket hotels whilst abroad.
Senior vice president of Pullman Global Marketing, Xavier Louyot, believes that workers now feel a need to remain connected to office life even when on the other side of the world.
He says; “Our knowledge of seasoned international travellers has led us to observe various trends over the years.
“The concept of a 9-5 job is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
“The need to remain connected to both business and leisure lifestyles has led to a dependence on technology.”
When attempting to explain their reasoning for this twist on the traditional relaxing holiday, 62 per cent of British workers claimed their job to be very time consuming and therefore required them to remain on top of emails and calls at all times. 28 per cent believed that showing a high level of commitment was necessary, while 14 per cent claim this to be the “done thing” amongst employees at their office.
Yet while 82 per cent of respondents felt an obligation to put in a few hours during their annual leave, only 60 per cent thought that this would have a positive effect upon their career progression.
It seems that workers are beginning to recognise that this may be a problem, however; 13 per cent of workers chose to work in secret and not tell their loved ones about their professional activity whilst on holiday. This is perhaps due to feelings of guilt, as 51 per cent claimed to feel bad for not spending as much time with friends and family during their down time as they would like.
Do you tend to take work tools such as mobile phones or laptops on holiday with you and, if so, is this because you are worried about falling behind at work or due to pressure from colleagues or bosses?
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