23/07/2010
Holiday breaks not helping managers in overcoming anxiety of work
by William Hobson
A holiday break may seem like a typical means of overcoming anxiety and stress from workplace problems, yet The Daily Mail reports that many workers are finding it impossible to escape from their jobs with a short break.
According to a new survey from the Institute of Leadership and Management, workers are disrupting their relaxation by taking electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops away with them. Rather than relaxing or spending time with their families, many workers in management positions are unable to take a break from their responsibilities and are instead checking emails or taking calls from the office.
"Gone are the days when people cut off contact with work for a fortnight over summer and make a complete break," said Penny De Vaulk, chief executive of the Institute. "While technology means it is easier than ever to work remotely it also makes it extremely hard to switch off."
Nearly 2,500 managers were polled in the survey, with just over a third reporting that they often worked whilst on holiday. Of those, 80% said they would normally respond to emails, 50% to phone calls and 10% would even go into the office if not abroad. Two-thirds of people who owned a blackberry or smartphone said they would check it "at least once a day, if not more" for work-related messages.
Shockingly though, 40% of all managers said that when they returned to work they felt more anxious than before they left. Overwhelmingly the sheer volume of emails which they have to deal with upon return was to blame for causing holiday stress.
The survey suggest that managers struggling to deal with stress whilst on holiday could benefit from changing their attitudes to their workloads. Anxiety treatment such as hypnotherapy sessions could help them deal with their workloads upon return without being overwhelmed.
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