New research has revealed what stops many Kiwis switching off from work while away on holiday.
In a survey of more than 1000 people conducted by 2degrees, 38 percent of small business owners and decision-makers say they typically find it difficult to switch off during their time away from the office.
Questioned why this may be, male workers said there was a nagging feeling that something may go wrong while they are gone, while women said they wanted to keep on top of their workload. One-in-five said it was because they were contacted by colleagues - something more common in 16-24 age group.
Forty percent admit they have been told off by friends or family for working too hard during their time off while 72 percent said they proactively check their work emails or make calls on holiday.
"Small business owners are incredibly passionate about what they are doing and don’t always want to take a break," said 2degrees chief business officer Andrew Fairgray.
"Their focus is on getting their business off the ground and growing it. I was in that position myself once and had no wish to take a holiday.
"I loved seeing the momentum the business had gained and felt a real sense of urgency to continue to drive it."
But he said it was also important to talk to colleagues about the benefits of taking a break.
"With the pressures of work known to be impacting mental health across the country, it’s important that people feel they are able to switch off when they go on holiday.
"Allowing themselves to refuel not only has positive effects on their mental wellbeing, but on the productivity and efficiency of their business."
The research found that 33 percent of those surveyed hadn't taken a holiday in more than a year, and 9 percent hadn't in four years.
Newshub.
