Almost half of Australian professionals (40%) continue to ‘engage with work’ when they are on holiday – admitting that they regularly, or as a minimum occasionally, check their work emails when on annual leave. 

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the boundaries between work and home became increasingly blurred. And now, a recent study conducted by recruitment agency Robert Walters of over 2,000 Australian professionals has revealed that a high percentage of the workforce are using their holiday time to catch up on work-related tasks. 

The research by Robert Walters comes as the Australian government introduced a "Right to Disconnect" Bill yesterday (August 26th) granting workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their employers outside of work hours. The bill should should give employees clearer boundaries between work and free time which is needed if we take look at the stats revealed in the study.   

Shay Peters, CEO of Robert Walters Australia and New Zealand, suggests that there are various reasons why individuals choose to stay connected with work during their much-needed rest and relaxation.  

"For some, it's about avoiding the overwhelming inbox upon their return from vacation and the subsequent catch-up required. For others, the convenience of staying connected plays a role. Nowadays, with our addiction to phones and devices, it has become effortless to stay in touch. The lines between work and home life have become so intertwined that they are merging into one." 
 
Waste of a Holiday 

According to research by Robert Walters, 64% of professionals do not feel like their annual leave entitlement is sufficient enough to be able to switch-off and get the break away from work.  

In fact, over a third (71%) stated that they don’t feel ‘refreshed’ after returning from an annual leave break. 

Peters shares his personal experience of logging-on during personal downtime, stating: 

"Over the years, I, too, became addicted to checking work emails. Now, I have developed more discipline in managing this habit, as it can heighten stress levels. The dynamics have shifted, and people are now concerned about work encroaching on their personal lives, just as they were once worried about the opposite." 
 
“If companies want to remain competitive in attracting and retaining staff then they must adopt a culture that respects the boundaries between work and personal life., This means setting clear boundaries between work and holidays and making sure employers respect these requirements.” 

Discussing the new ‘Right to Disconnect’ Bill, Shay added, “In my opinion, employees stand to gain from the implementation of this legislation. It prompts employers and managers to reflect on the appropriateness of making work-related requests once the employee has finished their workday or is on holiday.  

“Whether an individual employee chooses to take advantage of this new legislation will vary, but I believe it will certainly discourage managers from contacting their staff outside of their designated work hours.” 

About Robert Walters  

Robert Walters is one of the world’s leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies with a global presence spanning 31 countries. The Australian business recruits across the fields of accounting & finance, banking, engineering & operations, general management, human resources, information technology, legal, risk management, compliance & audit, sales, marketing & communications, secretarial & business support and supply chain & procurement.