A quarter (25 percent) of workers feel expected to work whilst on holiday, according to new research from recruitment company Adecco.

Two fifths (43 percent) of workers say they spend over half their holiday thinking about work, with one in ten (12 percent) admitting to checking their emails daily whilst on holiday. Of those who admit to working whilst away, nearly half (48 percent) are willing to answer calls and nearly a fifth (17 percent) are willing to write and plan documents. These holiday habits are unsurprisingly having a negative impact on workers, with a fifth (22 percent) of respondents stating they have had a disagreement with their family as a result of working while on holiday. Over two-thirds (70 percent) say they do not feel refreshed when they return from holiday as a result of taking work with them and 67 percent believe this impacts on their relationships.

According to Alex Fleming, Operations Director at Adecco: “We appear to be a nation which has adopted a whole host of bad holiday habits, with many UK workers feeling compelled to keep on top of their workload whilst away. With the increase of internet-connected mobile devices, employees are unable to properly switch off from their work. “It is important that both employers and employees champion the merits of a proper holiday. It is important that workers are allowed time to switch off and unwind. The result will be a happier and less stressed workforce, which will in turn boost productivity”.