For many UK workers, holidays are no longer a time to fully unwind, with a significant number finding it difficult to disconnect from work.
New data from NatWest Premier highlights that two in five Britons continue checking their emails while on holiday, and the trend is particularly pronounced among high earners.
The survey, which targeted affluent customers, found that 42% of the British workforce remains tethered to their work during holidays, even with their out-of-office notifications switched on. Among those earning more than £100,000 a year, this figure jumps to 66%, with many spending up to three days of a typical seven-day holiday working.
For those earning between £15,000 and £100,000, the average time spent working during a week-long holiday is two and a half days. The drive to stay on top of their workload and reduce post-holiday stress compels over a third of the respondents to work while away.
This shift towards what is colloquially being termed “working from holiday” (WFH) has prompted a rise in demand for holiday accommodations with reliable broadband. Companies like Kip Hideaways, which specialise in boutique self-catering rentals, have even launched a collection of properties specifically tailored for those who need to “work from anywhere.”
Despite this trend, many workers are not fully utilising their holiday entitlements. The survey reveals that only 45% of workers take their full annual leave allowance, with notable differences between genders: just half of men and 61% of women use all their leave.
Various factors contribute to this underutilisation. A quarter of respondents cited the high cost of holidays as a deterrent, while a third of high earners admitted they lacked the time to plan a getaway. Laura Newman, head of financial planning at NatWest Premier, noted that many people overlook the financial planning support available from their banks, which could help in organising and affording holidays.
The issue of overworking extends beyond holidays. Research by accountancy firm RSM found that 33% of organisations are now allowing employees to work remotely from outside the UK as a response to staffing challenges. Meanwhile, the UK government has committed to introducing a “right to switch off” as part of its efforts to safeguard workers’ rights.
New data recently highlighted that employees who take companies to employment tribunals could be awarded thousands of pounds more in compensation if they are constantly bothered outside of their working hours.
A code of practice is likely to be agreed by employers and employees, setting out expectations of normal working hours when staff should expect to be contacted.
The government has said the aim was to ensure that the laws were “not inadvertently blurring the lines between work and home life”.
Although breaching an out-of-hours code of practice is unlikely to warrant litigation by itself, employees would be able to use it as an aggravating factor in a broader claim, improving their chances of winning the claim, as well as increasing their potential compensation.