If you can’t resist the urge to open your mailbox while sipping a drink poolside on a long-overdue holiday, remember you are not the only one.
A survey of 2,580 white collar workers in Spain, the UK and France by talent consulting company Robert Walters found that most of them fail to switch off during their leave.
Who’s most hooked on checking their inbox?
Brits are the most likely (78%) to get anxious before returning to work after a long trip.
Over half of them (51%) check their inbox out of fear of being overwhelmed by an email avalanche when they get back on duty, while 43% check their messages because they want to make sure nothing urgent is happening while they’re away.
The Spanish too have a slight obsession with their inbox: 40% open it on a holiday and 28% do so on a daily basis.
In general, 63% of Spanish workers are anxious about returning to work after taking annual leave, and 64% in France.
What’s the share of those who truly unplug?
The rates are extremely low.
Again, only a thin portion of British workers (15%) say they are completely recharged and ready to return to work after taking annual leave.
Slightly more in France (22%) and in Spain (25%)
Are company shutdowns a solution to avoid backlogs?
A lot of workers fear that their time off will leave them out of the loop with their team.
A potential solution could be going on holiday all at the same time – in other words, a company shutdown.
Opinions across Europe differ. Most Brits (54%) don’t believe it’s a good way to address the problem, deeming shutdowns too disruptive for the company.
Never mind fixed periods of leave: 51% of British workers say it would reduce flexibility. Spaniards too aren’t blown away by the idea: 47% are against.
The French are more positive, pointing out benefits such as “unified time off for teams” and “stress relief”. Only 31% see no pros in being all off work simultaneously.
Right to disconnect: Where is it an actual right in Europe?
France was the first European country to introduce the “right to switch off” into its labour law, in 2017. There are however no penalties for companies which don’t comply.
Spain enshrined that right in its legislation in 2018 and now plans to bolster it with a new draft bill, while Portugal introduced it into its Labour Code in 2021.
Italy so far only gave this protection to people who work remotely. Belgium extended this right to the private sector in 2023, but limited that to companies with at least 20 employees.
The UK has no such legislation but there have been growing calls to introduce it.
Employees ‘putting off’ holiday plans over judgment fears
Robert Walters CEO Chris Eldrige says annual leave anxiety might have relevant implications for companies.
“It doesn’t only threaten to lower already historically low engagement rates, but our research suggests that it could have major implications for productivity rates for workplaces across Europe.”
“Not only are professionals resorting to inbox-watching during annual leave, but some are even putting off booking it altogether due to fears of how it may make them look at work.”
What should employers do to smooth the process?
Elridge argues that season shutdowns are not a solution.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to annual leave or holiday policies. Employers must develop an approach that goes beyond seasonal shutdowns,” he said.
“No matter the location, business operations will rarely completely pause when staff go on holiday and so the key action for employers across Europe must be in reinforcing and placing value on the right to switch off within their organisational culture.”
He suggests that mandatory handovers and pre-leave to-do lists would improve annual leave transitions between co-workers.
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