UK workers will spend a total of 3,171,550 days of their holidays on work activities, according to new research from Kwik Fit Mobile, the UK’s leading mobile tyre fitting service.
A study has revealed that 46% of those working full or part time spent part of their holidays last year on work activities such as checking emails, making work phone calls or writing and reading documents. Each of these holidaymakers spent an average of 5 hours and 24 minutes on work-related activity.
Although female workers were less likely than men to spend vacation time working (42% vs 50% respectively), those women who did catch up with work on holiday spent longer doing so. The average holiday time women spent on work last year was 6 hours 22 minutes, compared to 4 hours 19 minutes for their male counterparts.
The research also found that work has an impact on where one in four (25%) UK workers go on holiday. 15% say they need to have a good wi-fi or internet service whilst they’re away, 11% need a good mobile signal, and 4% will only vacation in hotels which also have good business facilities. For some there are even greater restrictions – 3% say they will only stay near an airport when travelling abroad, while the same proportion (3%) say they will only holiday in the UK in case they have to get back to their place of work quickly.
Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, said: “This research shows that many people find it hard to leave work behind when they head off on holiday. With today’s technology, staying connected is getting ever easier and it can be a real benefit, as long as it doesn’t stop people enjoying their valuable time away.
