If you’re like most other executive assistants it would be a fair bet to assume that you rarely finish your day with your ‘to do ‘list fully ticked off.
How tempting then, would it be to take a couple of days off in-order to catch up? If so, you’re not alone. 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.
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.
Shay Peters, CEO of Robert Walters 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.”
The research comes as the Australian government is set to introduce a “Right to Disconnect” Bill, granting workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their employers outside of work hours.
This legislation is already in place in several countries, including Austria, Chile, Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, and Italy. Should an employee successfully raise concerns about after-hours contact, an employer in Australia could face fines of up to $18,000. The bill is set to be passed in the coming months and should give employees clearer boundaries between work and free time.
