Although companies pay their employees to have some time off, around 40% of travelers globally work while on vacation, according to a recent survey. The Americans are worst when it comes to plugging off, with 77% of them they try to stay in touch with the office.
A recent poll, commissioned by TripAdvisor, revealed the unhealthy habits of workers – the inability and often unwillingness to disconnect and relax. Globally, 40% of the employed people admit they do some work while being on vacation. The survey on more than 16,100 respondents from 10 countries also finds that employees in the United States are among the hardest workaholics – 77% of them work while being away from the office. The reasons for this are many, but the top factor across all countries surveyed, is that there are often urgent situations that need their attention. The travel website also discovered that workers in the U.S. receive less paid vacation than any other nation – only 18 days per year. The average paid days off work are 24, while in comparison, the French get 31 days for vacation each year.
The findings of the survey are similar to a recent study released by the U.S. Trael Association and GfK. They found that about 40% of the people don’t even plan to use all their paid time this year. It’s not that they don’t need or want a vacation – most of them fear the pile of work upon return. Others believe that no one else in the office can do their job, so they are needed even when taking a break. This is what the experts call “the martyr complex” – the feeling that you are too important and irreplaceable and that you need to “sacrifice” your vacation time for the firm. Other common reasons, cited by the respondents are that they just can’t afford to stay off work, and surprisingly, that they won’t advance in their careers if they go on vacations.
Americans are famous with being workaholics, so these results are hardly a surprise. But it turns out this is a global tendency. Website Lastminute together with OnePoll conducted a study on 6,500 employed adults throughout Europe and found that contrary to stereotypes, Americans don’t work more than Europeans. In fact, around 72% of Spaniards and nearly 69% of Italians say they received a work call while trying to relax on their vacation. Among all nations polled, the British seem to be the fondest of leisure time – only a little over 40% of them were bothered by a co-worker or a boss during their holiday. And again, the people believe it’s their duty to respond and help with whatever they can.
This attitude, however, may be very dangerous, according to researchers. Previously studies have proved that plugging off is essential and taking fewer vacations can backfire – it is linked with increased risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions in both men and women. And frequent travelers are generally healthier, happier and even more productive at work. Taking more and longer vacations is even associated with longer life and youthful appearance, not to mention the short-term effects on the mood. As a whole, people today are working more than their parents did 30 years ago, and maybe this is one of the reasons we are less happy and healthy, as well.
