As the Christmas holidays draw to a close, nearly half of workers admit they are suffering ‘back to work blues’ and aren’t looking forward to getting back to the daily grind.
Of the 2,000 people surveyed by workplace pensions provider NOW: Pensions, nearly three quarters took time off over the festive season. On top of bank holidays, most people took an additional six days leave, while an unlucky seven percent had to work every day over the Christmas period.
“As December turns to January and the tinsel comes off the Christmas tree, it’s natural to feel a bit blue about the prospect of returning to work,” Morten Nilsson CEO of NOW: Pensions said.
The main cause of back to work blues is early starts (46 percent) and lack of free time was also mentioned often (41 percent). Nearly a quarter claimed they miss their family and a further 23 percent admit they find their job boring. One in ten confess they dislike their boss.
When asked what aspects of their job prevents them looking for a job elsewhere, location tops the bill for over a third (35 percent) of those surveyed, while convenience was mentioned.
“Apart from a lucky minority, for most people work is a chore rather than a passion but, for a happier workforce, things like generous holidays and good pensions can go a long way and shouldn’t be under-estimated,” Nilsson concluded.
Of the one in five who are looking forward to going back to work, nearly half say this is because they love their jobs, while others live for routine. Six percent go as far as to say that an office love interest is making them decidedly more positive about a return to work than those who are much less loved-up.
Rebecca joined the HRreview editorial team in January 2016. After graduating from the University of Sheffield Hallam in 2013 with a BA in English Literature, Rebecca has spent five years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past she has been part of the editorial teams at Sleeper and Dezeen and has founded her own arts collective.
