Research from SD Worx suggests many employees still don’t feel fully able to switch off, with nearly half saying their manager does not actively encourage them to take annual leave. A new study from SD Worx, the leading European HR and payroll provider, found that 45 per cent of UK employees do not feel encouraged by their manager to take holidays regularly.
The findings come despite growing awareness of burnout, wellbeing and work-life balance. Almost one in four employees (24.6 per cent) say they cannot take annual leave without creating pressure for themselves or their colleagues. In practice, that means many workers face a difficult trade-off: taking the break they need while knowing work may pile up in their absence or place additional strain on teammates.
The findings suggest that for some employees, annual leave remains a benefit that exists on paper more than in reality. More than one in ten workers (12.4 per cent) say they were unable to take all of their annual leave entitlement during the past year.
At a time when employers are investing heavily in wellbeing initiatives, the research raises a more fundamental question: if employees don’t feel able to use the leave they’re already entitled to, are organisations tackling the root causes of workplace fatigue?
The data suggests that while holiday allowances may be available, workplace culture, workload pressures and concerns about burdening colleagues may still be preventing employees from taking the breaks they need.
The burden of “holiday guilt” does not appear to be shared equally.
Nearly three in ten women (29 per cent) say they cannot take time off without creating pressure for themselves or their colleagues, compared with 21 per cent of men.
Perhaps the most surprising finding is that UK employees report needing fewer consecutive days off to fully recharge than workers anywhere else in Europe. On average, UK workers say they need just 8.4 consecutive days off to feel fully refreshed. By comparison, employees in Italy report needing 9.2 days, while workers in Ireland need 9.9 days. Employees in Spain and Sweden say they require 16.7 days on average, almost double the UK figure.
On the surface, the finding could suggest British workers are particularly good at switching off, but when viewed alongside widespread holiday guilt, unused annual leave and concerns about workload pressure, it paints a more complicated picture. Rather than recovering faster, UK employees may simply be becoming accustomed to operating with less downtime and lower expectations of rest.
“What stands out is the contrast between what people need and what they feel able to take,” says Laura Miller, UK People Country Leader at SD Worx. “Nearly half of workers don’t feel encouraged to take holidays, one in four believe taking leave creates pressure for colleagues, and more than one in ten didn’t use all of their entitlement last year.
“Perhaps the most interesting finding is that UK workers say they need fewer days off to recharge than employees anywhere else in Europe,” Miller adds. “While that may sound positive, employers should consider whether this reflects resilience or whether people have simply become used to operating under constant pressure.
“The reality is that annual leave isn’t a perk, it’s an important part of maintaining wellbeing, productivity and long-term performance. Organisations that genuinely encourage employees to switch off will be better placed to support both their people and their business.”
