Heatwave, schmeatwave; Brits are actually working on their summer holidays

Summer has officially arrived. After weeks of wet weather closed many pub gardens, a week-long heatwave has hit the UK. But some are shunning the blue skies, as research suggests badgering bosses will keep workers chained behind the desk in July and August.

In its survey of 2,000 workers, communications platform Movchan Agency has found that 54% of employees expect to work while on annual leave, thanks to team members sending them work-related texts and emails.

Mounting workloads are contributing to an ‘always-on’ culture where staff struggle to switch off. But as the line between vacation and workation blurs, experts are warning that firms must promote healthier corporate culture to let employees wind down outside work.

Holiday hounding

Most of us look forward to a summer rest break in July and August after months spent toiling away. But the advent of remote working has led to innovative technologies that allow us to log onto work from anywhere — even, sadly, a poolside sun lounger.

With many work tasks now able to be completed from a personal mobile, team members are reportedly bombarding their colleagues with work-related texts and emails while they are away. As a result, 59% of UK staff say they struggle to switch off from work.

Concerningly, 26% of workers work on holiday because their manager demands it. Time off from work is supposed to be a chance for employees to put their workload aside and recharge their batteries, but it seems that some employers are putting profit ahead of people.

Vacation or workcation?

The Movchan Agency data suggests that many company staff members are inadvertently going on workations, where employees work while travelling abroad, instead of vacations.

Workations are not necessarily a bad thing. As a form of flexible working, they can be useful for allowing foreign team members to visit family or friends abroad without having to use up their precious holiday entitlement.

Staff must choose to go on workation, however. If employees are forced to work during their annual leave, bosses risk sacrificing their health and wellbeing.

Not to mention, pressurising staff to work during their allotted rest break could also breach Working Time Regulations and mean the company is liable to legal claims.

Sunburned or burned out?

Alongside naggy managers, another reason why employees might be working from the sunbed is fear. Specifically, fear of losing their job.

Today’s competitive market has seen large businesses, such as Dyson, make layoffs to adopt a lean business model. This drive for productivity has created a toxic work culture, where staff are terrified of being seen to ‘slack off’.

For many, these fears get in the way of their holiday, with anxiety forcing 63% of respondents to check their work-related emails while away.

29% of people surveyed by Movchan Agency also said they are scared of losing their job if they don’t respond to work messages on time.

How to switch off

The debate over when employees have a right to disconnect from work has been hotting up this summer. The government has hinted it may introduce new laws to make it harder for bosses to contact staff after 5pm, similar to other countries including France and Portugal.

Firms should draw up an official company policy on when and in what circumstances it is appropriate to contact colleagues who are not at work. Ahead of them taking time off, individuals should also be told who to delegate tasks to.

Of course, some employees choose to work on holiday, rather than switch off. Managers should be trained on how to handle workers who refuse to take appropriate rest breaks.

In Luxembourg, businesses are expected to take measures to ensure staff can turn off work notifications. For example, by blocking employees from logging onto IT systems during set periods.

UK companies are able to dictate when an employee takes holiday. While these powers are usually reserved for office closures, such as during Christmas, managers could also theoretically tell a worker to go on holiday if they feel they might need time off from work.