The data from AlldayPA[i] reveals that more than half (52%) of UK full-time employees did not take a single sick day in the 12 months since February 2021. Similarly, more than six in 10 (62%) said they had not taken their full annual leave allowance last year.
Adrian says, “Going to work when feeling ill, whether that’s because an employee feels guilty about taking time off, is fearful of losing their job or unable to switch off from work is a false economy and something employers need to stamp out.
“Likewise, if people not taking their full allocated annual leave can be detrimental to their performance, as well as their mental and physical health and employers should encourage workers to take a break every few months.”
A global study by SPANA[ii] found that taking days off at least once every six weeks helps to stave off exhaustion at work. 70% of employees said they suffer fatigue and feel run down if they go too long without booking annual leave. The key signs of needing a holiday include feeling stressed (56%) and finding that your mental well-being is starting to suffer (53%).
Another study by mental health support service, Spill found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of those working at small to medium sized companies said they feel guilty about taking a holiday[iii].
Adrian says, ““Workers who don’t take their full holiday allocation could be at risk of burn out. This could cause mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and depression. Even just being tired can have a negative effect on someone’s mood, as well as their ability to work.
“Unfortunately, many employers may not even know people feel unable to take sick leave or that some workers aren’t taking their annual leave because they are not tacking absence properly, especially since hybrid working came in and more people are working remotely.
“We recommend using absence management software which gives employers an overview of what is happening across their workforce.
“The software makes it easy to track sick days, holiday leave and any other absence. It prompts back to work interviews after sick leave, which could reveal issues employees are facing including whether they felt unable to take time off sooner that they did.
“Managers can see at a glance how much holiday someone has taken and encourage workers to take their full allocation. This ensures annual leave is spread out across the year too, rather than a mad dash at the end, so the workplace is never left short staffed.
“Having complete visibility of the organisation can help businesses easily spot where issues any risks and issues and address them. This helps create a positive working culture where people feel comfortable taking sick leave and the annual leave they are entitled to.
“In the long run this can help improve business performance as workers feel supported and motivated and are more likely to perform well.”
For more information on Active People HR visit: www.activpeoplehr.co.uk.