Drop your lying: You are also working even while on vacation

  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           New feature! Listen to this article as a podcast 

More than half of Danes check their work email and take calls during their summer holidays, with one in four feeling that their employer expects them to be available.

This finding comes from a new study conducted by Analyse Danmark for the trade union IDA, which surveyed 1,184 randomly selected working Danes.

A total of 52% of the respondents reported being available during their summer vacation via mobile, email, or text message to varying degrees. Almost one in five respondents are constantly reachable, checking emails, text messages and answering calls daily, at a minimum.

Previous surveys have indicated that up to two-thirds of American employees work during their vacation. Additionally, a study conducted last year by the London-based Movchan Agency found that 34% of employees work while on vacation because they love their jobs. 26% do so because their boss requires it.

Be careful

"Being constantly available and on may give you a sense of indispensability and career success, but it's a surefire path to burnout and decreased productivity.

Failing to disconnect from work during the holidays can seriously affect your physical and mental health, creativity, decision-making, and overall job performance," experts unanimously warn.

Being constantly available on the vacation may give you a sense of indispensability and career success, but it's a surefire path to burnout and decreased productivity, experts warn.                                                                                          Photos: StockCake

Another recent Danish survey conducted by Epinion for Sampension in early summer revealed that one in three Danes rarely take time off work during holidays.

This survey also indicates that approximately half of the respondents (47%) have experienced a concerning high level of stress in the months returned from a summer vacation.

Worrying numbers

”The summer holidays are the time of year when you can unplug from everyday life. But many people take their work with them on holiday - and that is worrying!

Because if you don't take time off during your vacation but constantly check work emails, you won't recover mentally either. This will increase the risk of being affected by stress when you return to work," Nicoline Rosenlund, Head of Health at Sampension, states.

If you do not take time off during your vacation, but constantly check work emails, you won't recover mentally. This might increase the risk of being affected by stress when you return to work.

”The months following the summer holidays are often the peak season for stress-related sick leave, which may seem surprising. After all, one would expect to return to work feeling recharged after a long vacation.

However, if you go on holiday while still facing a pile of unfinished tasks on your desk, you might feel the need to remain available for work during your break, including responding to emails.

This inability to fully disconnect can hinder your ability to recharge and subsequently increase your stress levels,” Nicoline Rosenlund warns.  ●

Read more:
Forbes.com: 54% of individuals continue to work on vacation
Hrdive.com: Employees are increasingly working while on vacation
Earth.com: Employees need vacations to fully disengage from work
Makeheadway.com: Working on Vacation? New Study Shows the Risks