Sun, Sea & Sandy Laptops

Finding it difficult to tear yourself away from the office for a summer break? Apparently, it’s not as uncommon as you may have originally thought!

Euroffice.co.uk – the UKs leading supplier of discount stationary – found in a recent survey of small and medium sized businesses that 35% of us are still contacting the office while we are on holiday this summer.

Of this 35% that will be checking-in with the office, 38% admitted that they would be in-touch with work ‘a few times’ while working on their tans, while 22% believe they will be in contact once a day, and 8% even believing they would have to stay in phone or email contact several times a day.

So, why the constant need for communication?

56% of people said they would be contacting the office simply because ‘staying on top of things makes returning from holiday easier’. 21% of people admitted that even though they are meant to be on holiday, they find they just ‘can’t disconnect completely from work.’

However, if you’re one of the ones looking forward to a week in the sun without worrying about what’s going on at work, the survey showed that 41% of people think technology – there to make our lives easier – is making it harder for us to take time off work, even for just a day without alerting the boss.

The next question may have produced a biased response from employees worried about alerting the boss, but of only 37% of people that admitted they had skived off work from time-to-time, many said they would do a lot less bunking off this summer because they have ‘too many deadlines’ or ‘too heavy workload’.

What Do The Surveyors Have To Say?

CEO of Euroffice, Simon Drakeford commented on the results of the survey: “During the summer, it’s very tempting to skip work for a day or two to enjoy the sunshine or get an early start on a holiday.

“However, with things still pretty tough out there, employees are questioning their job security and prospects.  Understandably, many see it as being in their best interest to work harder and put in the extra effort instead of bunking off.

“What’s unfortunate, though, is that our survey reveals that many diligent office workers are finding it increasingly difficult to leave their work behind and relax while taking their annual leave.  Ultimately, the extra stress will begin to take its toll – and this can negatively affect employees as well as the business.”

Euroffice is a small, multiple award winning, web-based company that offers over 35,000 office products and services for small businesses. Products include discount stationary, computer supplies, printers and faxes, ink toners and cartridges and office furniture.

What Do You Think?

Do you find it difficult to take time off work too, even when on annual leave? Is it just technology making it harder to break away from the office, or is there more to it? Leave your comments here.

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