TheLadders.co.uk, a UKsenior executive (£50K+) recruitment site found that 1 in 4 work-obsessed managers are checking their emails once or more an hour whilst on holiday with a further 32% checking them at least twice a day even though 21% admit it causes friction with their partner. Fifty three per cent conclude that their family resent the intrusion of the office on their holiday time.
In the poll of 600 senior managers registered with TheLadders.co.uk, 59% of frazzled executives admit to contacting the office because they don’t want to lose touch with what is going on. This might explain the worryingly high 71% who feel the need to respond immediately to a work email.
Whilst 70% of British executives explain that they are more than happy to take a BlackBerry or wireless device away with them, just 28% use it to enhance their holiday by calling family or taking pictures. 17% of executives claim just having the device with them leaves them stressed.
“There’s being conscientious and dedicated and then there’s being obsessed and stressed,” says Sarah Drew, General Manager of TheLadders.co.uk.
“Good employers welcome their senior team taking a break from the office to recharge their batteries and spend time with their loved ones so that their most important employees return refreshed and enthusiastic. We were shocked by how many senior managers felt that their hard earned holiday time should come second best to work. Our message is leave the phone off and get stuck into those sandcastles!” says Drew.