Unplug Already – Korn Ferry Survey Finds Half of Professionals Check in With Work Multiple Times a Day While on Vacation
May 22 2019 - 10:37AM
Business Wire
-- Nearly Two-Thirds Have Cut Short or
Cancelled Vacations Due to Work Pressures --
-- More than Half Have Argued with Spouse About
Working During Vacation --
Editor’s Note: Survey Responses at End of News
Release
As the summer vacation season kicks into high gear, a new Korn
Ferry (NYSE:KFY) survey shows that disconnecting from the office to
enjoy time with friends and family is a tall order for most
professionals.
Nearly half (45 percent) of those surveyed say they check in
with the office multiple times a day while on vacation. More than a
quarter (26 percent) say they check in at least once a day, and no
one said they abstain from connecting to work during vacation.
Nearly all (95 percent) of respondents say they plan to take a
vacation that’s at least a week long, but nearly two-thirds (65
percent) admit they’ve had to cut a vacation short due to work
pressures.
When asked why they work while on vacation, the largest
percentage said to ‘put out fires’ (45 percent), and nearly a fifth
of respondents (19 percent) say they work while on holiday because
they ‘enjoy it.’
In addition, more than half (54 percent) say they’ve argued with
a spouse or significant other about being too connected to work
during vacation.
“In today’s workplace, most employees don’t have the luxury of
completely checking out while on vacation. Clearing the deck of
work responsibilities is hard, but planning better for downtime and
negotiating set plug-in times with family and friends when keeping
in contact with the office is a must,” said Korn Ferry Senior
Partner and Engagement Specialist Mark Royal. “Finding the balance
can help professionals focus on the scenery instead of the
screen.”
More than a third (35 percent) of respondents do not plan on
using all of their vacation time, and nearly three quarters (70
percent) said they would prefer a higher salary to more vacation
days.
“Vacation time is not just a nice to have, it’s a must to
sustain workers’ health and well-being,” said Royal. “Our research
finds that the majority of professionals are more stressed at work
than they were five years ago, and they say that stress is having a
negative impact on their personal relationships. Professionals who
can turn off the demands of work – even for short periods of time –
will be more engaged and more productive in the long run.”
About the survey
There were 1,070 responses to the online executive survey, which
took place in May 2019. Please note that due to rounding responses
may not equal 100 percent.
Survey Responses
While on vacation, how often do you
connect to work?
Multiple times a day
45 percent
Once a day 26 percent A few times per week 21 percent Once a week 3
percent Never 0 percent
Would you rather have a salary increase
or more vacation days?
Salary Increase 70 percent More vacation days 30 percent
While on vacation, have you ever had a
disagreement with your spouse about being too connected to
work?
Yes
54 percent
No 46 percent
If you work while on vacation, what’s
your primary reason for doing so?
Putting out fires: I get pulled into
critical issues
47 percent
Too much work to do/Increased workload upon return 29 percent I
enjoy it 19 percent I worry people will make wrong decisions
without my input 5 percent I worry other people will get
assignments I want 1 percent
After returning to work from vacation,
how long does it typically take you to “get back into the swing of
things”?
One day
47 percent
No time
27 percent
One week 24 percent Two weeks 2 percent More than a month 0 percent
Do you plan to use all of your
available vacation time in 2019?
Yes 65 percent No 35 percent
Have you cancelled, delayed or cut
short personal vacation plans due to occupational demands or
pressure to perform at work?
Yes 65 percent No 35 percent
Do you plan to take a vacation that is
at least one week long this year?
Yes 95 percent No 5 percent
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We help
clients synchronize strategy and talent to drive superior
performance. We work with organizations to design their structures,
roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people to
bring their strategy to life. And we advise them on how to reward,
develop, and motivate their people.
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MEDIA CONTACTTracy
Kurschner612.309.3957Tracy.Kurschner@Kornferry.com
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