1 in 5 business owners haven’t taken a break in over a year

As we enter the warmer months, many employees may be looking forward to their summer holidays. However, SME owners may feel less inclined to take time off.

New research from Uswitch reports that 1 in 5 business owners have not taken a full week off in over a year. It’s a worrying trend that places founders at a high risk of burnout.

The report also shows that many entrepreneurs feel guilty when stepping back from work, suggesting it’s becoming harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Why aren’t business owners taking time off?

Uswitch surveyed 1,000 small business owners across the UK to explore the pressure entrepreneurs face when it comes to stepping away from their work.

The results show that a staggering 70% of entrepreneurs feel guilty when taking time off from their businesses, even working throughout their annual leave, if taking any at all.

The inability to disconnect from work often stems from financial pressures or fears of missing out on opportunities while out of office.

Also, admin overload means entrepreneurs feel they can’t justify taking time off, with 1 in 4 spending between 11 and 15 hours a week on admin. Over a third are struggling to keep up with tasks such as chasing late payments and managing cash flow.

Staff shortages are another reason why entrepreneurs feel unable to unplug. Solopreneurs may feel particularly stuck if they have nobody to carry their load while they are off.

The cost of founder burnout

As work-life balance becomes a major talking point across UK workplaces, employees and employers are more aware than ever of the dangers of burnout.

While awareness is growing, Uswitch’s report indicates that business owners are still at a higher risk of burnout due to overworking. Overtime has also become more prevalent due to hybrid working, blurring boundaries between work and play.

It’s one reason that workations, where workers and bosses base themselves in a traditional holiday location to work from, are becoming the norm. That’s despite proper rest breaks being important for employees to recharge and avoid stress and burnout.

While the Right to Switch Off was scrapped from the government’s Employment Rights Bill, many bosses still back it. However, SME owners are still evidently finding it hard to switch off; perhaps worried about how taking holidays will affect their business’ productivity.

But burnout is not just risky for business owners’ mental health. It also has long-term effects on the health of a business. Uswitch points to data from the Mental Health Foundation, which found that “stress-related absences cost UK businesses £28 billion annually”.

How to take better breaks

As a business owner, it’s essential to find time to rest. Uswitch offers some practical suggestions to help you take better breaks, including:

• Embrace automation: with administrative pressure being a leading cause for entrepreneurs feeling unable to switch off, it may be wise to automate time-consuming admin tasks to free up around seven hours per week
• Delegate and outsource: entrepreneurs often wear many hats. By trusting others to share the load, you can significantly ease your workload
• Schedule A/L: actively carve out time to recharge by establishing clear boundaries with your team, setting up out-of-office responses, and blocking out work-free periods

Running a business is intense. In fact, many founders are even taking ‘mini-retirements’ after selling their business to recover from the pressures of full-time leadership.

But it doesn’t have to be all-consuming. Taking rest as seriously as you take your work can have plenty of benefits, including a boost in productivity and morale. Plus, it sets a good example for your team, promoting a culture that embraces a healthy work-life balance.