Employees don’t switch off from work
Written on June 29, 2011 by Douglas R
More than a third of UK employees take business calls on holiday, with top level management and the over-65s being the guiltiest of never switching off from work, research finds.
Men are 66 per cent more likely than women to pick up a call, according to research of more than 1,000 workers commissioned by telecoms company Gradwell.
A significant 30 per cent of respondents admitted to actively making calls while on annual leave.
Workers in the capital are the most likely to make or receive calls whilst on holiday, closely followed by those in the South West.
The high proportion of people picking up the phone suggests that businesses are putting some pressure on staff to work during holidays, according to Gradwell.
Gradwell managing director Peter Gradwell says, ‘It is very difficult, particularly in managerial positions, to cut yourself off from the office, especially if you’re staying in the country. It is important, though, to have a proper break and I often find that ignoring the phone and coming back for a fresh start after the holiday can give you some perspective on problems or difficult issues in the workplace.
‘The majority of managers have smartphones and work remotely to some extent, but it’s important to keep a sense of perspective about when it is and is not appropriate to be available to staff, the accountant and every other call you receive during the day!’
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