Just half (50 per cent) of employees say they’re able to completely disconnect from work while on vacation, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll and Ceridian HCM Inc.
The survey, which polled more than 600 employees — including more than 300 who work remotely in some capacity — found 45 per cent said they don’t fully disconnect from work while on vacation, while 25 per cent said they largely unplug from work but continue to check in once or twice and 12 per cent said they check in with work regularly.
Almost all (93 per cent) respondents agreed there are benefits to taking vacation time, including improvements to mental health (78 per cent), physical health (46 per cent), productivity (45 per cent) and job satisfaction (40 per cent).
Read: Only 39% of U.S. employees can fully unplug from work during holidays: survey
Among respondents who work remotely, more than two-thirds (69 per cent) said remote working makes it easier for them to take vacation, while 66 per cent said it has changed how they vacation, such as increased flexibility to book cheaper transportation/accommodations or avoid busy travel days (29 per cent), balancing vacation schedules with co-workers (30 per cent) and extended travel time (21 per cent).
This summer, more than half (59 per cent) of employees said they plan to work from a vacation destination (59 per cent), followed by a lake house or cottage (20 per cent), a friend or family member’s home (22 per cent) and a park or beach (12 per cent). Notably, 41 per cent said they only plan to work from home or their usual work location this summer.
Read: KPMG allowing employees to work remotely from another province, country