Study finds quarter of workers failing to take full holiday entitlement

Only three quarters of full-time British workers took their entire holiday entitlement over the past 12 months, according to new research.

Only three quarters of full-time British workers took their entire holiday entitlement over the past 12 months, according to new research.

As many as 6% still had seven days or more left when their annual entitlement expired.

Of those who regularly take time off throughout the year, one in five admitted they return to work feeling more anxious than before they left.

The biggest consideration for 46% of people when booking their annual leave is matching their time off with that of their partner’s or the family’s.

This is followed by the cost of a holiday (34%) and the ‘implications’ their holiday may have on their employer (20%), the TravelSupermarket study found.

Switching off on summer holidays will be nearly impossible for 13% who still end up checking emails and taking work phone calls while at the pool or sightseeing.

Almost half (45%) view annual leave as ‘vital’ to their mental and physical health and keeping them motivated throughout the year. Being organised is key when booking the year’s holidays and almost one in five (17%) of workers are already making the most of this year’s bank holidays by booking their annual leave around them.

Nearly 80% said they started to relax almost immediately when arriving in their destination; 7% said it takes them up to five days while 6% said they never felt fully relaxed on holiday.

TravelSupermarket travel expert Bob Atkinson said: “The best advice I can give all UK workers is to be organised well in advance – this will help you to book, and keep, your holiday allocation.

“If you’re planning a summer getaway, now really is the time to start looking into flights and accommodation to not only make sure you bag the best bargain but also to have something to look forward to.

“As hard as it may be, switching off your phone while you’re away will not only make your holiday more enjoyable, it will make your companion or family’s trip even better. There’s nothing worse than holidaying with someone who is continually taking calls or responding to emails. If you can’t go cold turkey, try to check your phone just once a day and you’ll feel more relaxed and less anxious for it.”