Employees too often work even when on vacation
Vacation is approaching. This should be a reason for joy for many. But for many employees, stress around vacation time grows. According to a survey, nearly a quarter (24%) feel little rested after their main vacation, and another 19% feel only somewhat rested.
Many employees in Germany have a hard time disconnecting during vacation. According to their own assessment, 24% of participants returned from their main vacation feeling little rested, and 19% felt only somewhat rested, according to a representative survey commissioned by health insurance provider Pronova BKK.
Around the supposedly most beautiful time of the year, many employees feel stressed. Roughly 60% reported working overtime both before and after their vacation to organize absences or catch up on work. The survey participants estimated their overtime at an average of eight hours before and after their vacation.
Half check emails voluntarily
According to the survey, about half (49%) of the participants took at least 15 days off for their main vacation. However, work plays a significant role for many people even during this time. Roughly half of the participants checked their emails during their vacation, and nearly two-thirds were contacted for work-related reasons during their free time.
The participants estimated that they spent an average of 1.3 hours on work-related tasks each day of their vacation. Young employees aged 18 to 29 reported spending an average of two hours. In this age group, only 48% felt very good or good after their main vacation. In total, 57% of employees and employees reported feeling this way.
Back to work mode earlier
The vacation ends early for many: 62% were already mentally back at work one to two days before the end. Three out of four managers reportedly switch back to work mode early to prevent chaos upon their return.
The economist and resilience trainer for Pronova BKK, Patrizia Thamm, advises improved self- and time management to prevent overload around vacation time. She emphasizes the importance of mental distance to truly enjoy and effectively disconnect from work during vacation.
Despite the vacation being a time for relaxation, over half of the employees (50%) voluntarily check their emails during this period. Moreover, nearly two-thirds of the employees were contacted for work-related reasons during their vacation time.
