Are You Too Busy At Work To Take A Holiday?

Are you one of the thousands of British workers failing to use all your holiday entitlement as you feel too pressured at work to take time off?

According to research from LV= travel insurance, although the average worker gets 25 days’ annual leave a year, many fail to use all their allowance.

Some 20% of working Brits won’t take their full holiday entitlement and will waste an average of seven days’ holiday each – benefiting British companies from an extra £540 per worker.

Most give up their holiday because they struggle to fit it in around their work schedule. This is largely down to either their workload being too demanding for them to take a break, or not being able to fit  annual leave days around colleagues holidays.

Some worry about their job security is a real concern for many, meaning they don’t want to be away from work in the current economic climate.

If you go on holiday, do you still work?

Around a quarter of those employed admit to working whilst away (Ed: is that as bad as using your smartphone in bed?) and a staggering third say they spend time thinking about work on their holiday.

Interestingly, the average Brit needs 3.5 days to feel relaxed and unwind – almost half the length of the average holiday which is 7.4 days.

There is the saying ‘A change is as good as a rest’  and of  the idea of going on holiday is invariably about having a restful, relaxing time.

In fact, over a quarter  of workers say they feel more productive after a holiday and psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson recommends people take regular breaks from work to improve their work output.

Commenting on the research findings, psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson said: “Holidaymakers returning to work are healthier, happier and therefore likely to be more productive. A balance needs to be struck with workers who say they are too busy to take a holiday as the strain of not having a break will accumulate over time leaving them more likely to burn out and be less effective at work.”

Selwyn Fernandes, Managing Director of LV= travel insurance, said: “In these uncertain economic times many people find themselves not only with less money, but also with heavier workloads. Yet a few days off is good for our general wellbeing. With people continuing to worry about work while they are away it is important to have adequate travel insurance to take away any other holiday worries.”

MoneyHighStreet comments: “Another saying that springs to mind is ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, and noone wants to be ‘dull’ do they?

“Seriously, it is important to take time out. Can anyone really be that indispensable that they can’t be out of the office for a few days? I do hope not.

“As Selwyn comments to, do make sure you buy travel insurance, it really can protect you should those unexpected things happen – lost luggage, or illness for example.”