All Work And No Play

33% Of British Workers Too Busy To Take Their Holiday

Jobsite Snapshot of Worker Holiday Attitudes Shows

74% are disgruntled with UK holiday entitlement
55% would pay to increase holiday entitlement
33% would take a pay-cut for extra holiday entitlement
62% of workers consider changing jobs when on holiday
33% do not take full holiday entitlement

London 20 June 2005 ñ A break from work is a chance to rest and rejuvenate, restoring vigour and enthusiasm for our jobs. But a survey from Jobsite, an online recruitment site shows that many British workers feel that they do not get enough holiday to compensate for the work they are doing and many holidays are being interrupted by work related activities.

The research reveals that 74% of UK workers think that their holiday entitlement isnít enough and a further 66% of workers think that we should have more bank holidays. Over half of workers (55%) said that they would pay to increase their holiday entitlement and a further third (33%) would take a pay cut to increase their time off. The survey highlights that Brits are beginning to feel hard done by lack of holiday entitlement.

A third of workers feel that their professional responsibilities affect their holiday, with 35% taking time out to deal with work related calls, 29% take reading materials, 30% take their laptop and documents abroad. A further 33% of workers do not take their full holiday entitlement with ëtoo much work oní and the ëboss would not allow ití cited as the top two reasons not to take time off.

The survey also revealed that 62% of all UK workers consider changing jobs whilst on holiday, meanwhile, 59% of workers actually go ahead to change jobs on their return. Making lifestyle changes (58%) followed by a rethink of finances (37%) were also areas that people wanted to change on return from leave.

Keith Potts, Managing Director, Jobsite says,î Holidays are an easy way to recharge the batteries and regroup for the next challenge as they allow us to sit back and evaluate our careers and lifestyle. When evaluating, all too often much of the nationís job dissatisfaction seems to arise from people ífalling intoí careers rather than doing something they really want to do, a plight affecting nearly one in three workers (30 per cent). Similarly, a fair proportion of the workers surveyed said that they would enjoy work more if they felt their jobs were more worthwhile. î

He continued, ìThe hours and the way we work comes down to a desire to succeed and a sense of duty. All workers and employers should strive to have a sense of realism and confidence about the quality and quantity of work done. After all, it is possible to do a job well without being at work for long hours.î