Despite almost half (49 per cent) of U.S. workers experiencing burnout at work, 42 per cent haven’t taken a vacation in the last year, according to a new survey by Eagle Hill Consulting.
The survey, which polled 1,000 employees, found younger respondents (50 per cent) and lower-income workers (56 per cent) were most likely to skip vacation. Nearly half (47 per cent) of all respondents said the expense of taking a vacation is the biggest impediment to taking time off, followed by the self-imposed pressure to stay on top of work (31 per cent), a heavy workload (27 per cent), no paid time off (25 per cent) and no colleagues available to cover their workload (25 per cent).
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“Employees really need time to disconnect from work, especially as we continue to see high burnout levels across the U.S. workforce,” said Melissa Jezior, president and chief executive officer at Eagle Hill, in a press release. “And ideally, employees should fully disengage from work rather than constantly checking emails and responding to messages.”
Among respondents who’ve had the opportunity to take vacation, 54 per cent said they fully disconnect from work during vacation. However, more than a quarter (28 per cent) also noted they continue to check work emails and messages while away from the office and six per cent said they continue to work during vacation.
“It’s not just employees who benefit from taking time off,” said Jezior. “When there is time to rest and take a break from job pressures, employers are far more likely to have an engaged workforce at its peak performance. It’s incumbent upon employers to create a culture that encourages employees to both regularly take time off and fully unplug from their job while they’re away.”
Read: Employers encouraging, requiring staff to take vacation to avoid burnout: survey