While paid vacations are meant to rest and forget about work responsibilities, one in two workers still struggles to fully enjoy their vacation, according to a recent Glassdoor survey.
Most employees take a summer break, but that doesn’t mean they really stop thinking about work, checking their email, or answering work calls.
According to a study conducted in the early summer in the United States by the recruitment and job search firm Glassdoor, just over half of workers (54%) say they cannot they do not think they will be able to drop out completely during their holidays.
However, this trend varies by age group. Older professionals, who often have the most responsibilities, have the most difficulty disconnecting: almost two-thirds (65%) of professionals aged 45 and over say they cannot or do not believe unable to unplug completely during their holidays, compared to 47% of professionals aged 21 to 25.
The tendency to think about work while on vacation also depends on the sector of activity, the survey reveals. Professionals working in education or law would be those who have the most difficulty dropping out (73% and 71% respectively), followed by workers in the accounting (58%) and finance (55%) sectors.
Risk of overwork
But why this annoying tendency to not be able to slow down? According to Noémie Ferland-Dorval, director of communications at the Order of Certified Human Resources and Industrial Relations Advisors of Quebec, hyperconnectivity – which has also increased with the democratization of telework – may be in question. The lack of manpower too could be one of the reasons why workers find it difficult to disconnect.
“Often, people find themselves with a heavier workload because of the labor shortage. We regularly talk about the economic effects of this phenomenon, but there are also a lot of human effects, ”recalls Ms.me Ferland-Dorval. For example, some workers filter their e-mails or advance files during their holidays for fear of being overworked when they return to work.
“Another consequence of the lack of personnel: the difficulty of allocating holidays to people. This is where you have to review the objectives and ask yourself if certain projects are really necessary, ”underlines the spokesperson for the order. “Perhaps more often than before, we also see some businesses, especially in retail, reducing their hours or closing their doors for a few weeks to make sure everyone can rest,” he said. her as an example.
“But it is certain that in sectors that provide essential services to the population, such as health or childcare, it is much more difficult. We cannot decide to leave the beneficiaries aside, ”nuance Noémie Ferland-Dorval.
Nevertheless, employers have “no choice but to pay attention to their workforce,” she insists. “Obviously, it’s difficult when people are missing, but if we don’t pay attention to those who are in place, we risk losing them. It must be ensured that workers can have time off to recharge their batteries. »