A survey found that nearly half of UK workers (43%) didn’t take a week off last year. Most had as much as five days left over.
Timetastic, a staff leave planner, also found that this was a problem in North America and Europe.
It has been warned that a growing unwillingness to take time off can be a sign of burnout or stress-related absenceeeism.
According to the research, Germans are the most likely, with 69%, to take a week-long holiday. Workers in the US, however, were the least likely, with 33%.
Timetastic argues that countries with a long-standing culture of holidays (such as Germany, which came in second at 60%) also lead in productivity per hour of work. This highlights the importance of rest for business.
Oliver Higenbottam is the managing director of Timetastic. He said: “Short holidays are good, but full-week vacations provide deep recovery for mental well-being and creativity.”
Dr Claire Merrifield is a GP and Medical Director at Selph Home Health Tests. She has highlighted the physiological and mental consequences of not taking a holiday.
They include an increased risk of heart attack, weight gain, sluggishness and stress, as well as impaired cognitive function, problem-solving abilities and high blood pressure.
Skipping annual leave can lead to chronic stress. Dr Merrifield noted that relaxation “reduces high blood pressure and improves metabolic health through increasing insulin sensitivity. It also reduces appetite, fat storage, and can boost energy”.
She added that without breaks we run the risk of becoming “less creative, less productive, and less efficient” and eventually burnt out.
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