LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the summer vacation season kicks into high gear, a new professional survey from Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY) finds that more often than not, work gets in the way of unplugging from the office.
Editor’s Note: Survey Responses at End of News Release
According to the June 2017 survey, which includes nearly 1,600 responses, 88 percent of professionals say they have cut short or cancelled a vacation due to work pressures.
Even if vacations aren’t curtailed, the vast majority of respondents admitted to having one foot in the vacation world, and one in the work world. A full third (34 percent) say they check in with work several times a day, and 41 percent say they check in at least once a day. Only 3 percent say they never check in with work when they are on vacation.
The inability to unplug apparently brings up family issues with many, with half the professionals surveyed saying they’ve had arguments with their spouse about being too connected with work while on holiday.
“Technology has made it easy for professionals and executives to sneak in a quick check-in with the office,” said Mark Royal, Senior Principal, Korn Ferry Hay Group. “How many of us have seen parents standing in an amusement park line reading their email instead of connecting with their kids and spouse? Taking time to make the break from work and enjoy experiences with friends and family makes for professionals who are healthier, happier and more engaged upon their return.”
According to the survey, the reasons professionals check in with the office vary, with “putting out fires and getting pulled into critical issues” the top reason (53 percent), while a quarter of respondents say they work during vacation because they “enjoy the work.”
When asked about a growing trend for companies to offer an unlimited vacation policy, the majority of respondents (74 percent) said they would take the same amount of vacation they currently do, with 12 percent saying they would take even less time off with an unlimited vacation policy.
“It’s critical that people work into their schedules some downtime away from the job,” said Royal. “While only 48 percent of respondents say they plan on taking all of their vacation time, the good news is that 90 percent say they plan on taking a vacation this year that is at least one week long. Extended time away is best for professionals so they can recharge and be more effective leaders.”
About the survey
There were 1,596 responses to the online executive survey, which took place in June 2017.
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Survey Responses |
|
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While on vacation, how often do you connect to work? |
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| Multiple times a day | 34 percent |
| Once a day | 41 percent |
| A few times per week | 19 percent |
| Once a week | 3 percent |
| Never | 3 percent |
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While on vacation, have you ever had a disagreement with your spouse about being too connected to work? |
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| Yes | 50 percent |
| No | 50 percent |
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If you work while on vacation, what’s your primary reason for doing so? |
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| Too much work to do/Increased workload upon return | 18 percent |
| Putting out fires: I get pulled into critical issues | 53 percent |
| I enjoy it | 25 percent |
| I worry people will make wrong decisions without my input | 4 percent |
|
After returning to work from vacation, how long does it typically take you to “get back into the swing of things?” |
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| No time | 21 percent |
| One day | 57 percent |
| One week | 22 percent |
| Two weeks | 0 percent |
| More than a month | 0 percent |
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Do you plan to use all of your available vacation time in 2017? |
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| Yes | 48 percent |
| No | 52 percent |
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Do you plan to take a vacation that is at least one week long in 2017? |
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| Yes | 90 percent |
| No | 10 percent |
|
Have you cancelled, delayed or cut short personal vacation plans due to occupational demands or pressure to perform at work? |
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| Yes | 88 percent |
| No | 12 percent |
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How much vacation time would you take if your company had an unlimited vacation policy? |
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| I would take fewer vacation days than I currently use | 12 percent |
| I would take the same amount | 74 percent |
| I would take more vacation days than I currently use | 14 percent |
|
What is the top benefit of an unlimited vacation policy? |
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| Increased employee engagement | 32 percent |
| Increased productivity | 27 percent |
| It’s great for recruiting | 24 percent |
| It’s great for retention | 17 percent |
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What is the biggest downside of an unlimited vacation policy? |
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| People would take less time off | 16 percent |
| People would take too much time off | 5 percent |
| It wouldn’t work for all types of employees | 79 percent |
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If an unlimited vacation policy would cause you to take fewer vacation days, what would be the top reason? |
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| I would worry that my boss/colleagues would think I’m not working hard enough | 30 percent |
| I would worry that someone would take important roles from me while I was away | 17 percent |
| I would be overwhelmed by the decision of how much to take and not schedule time | 11 percent |
| I am motivated by my current vacation policy that requires I take all of my allotted vacation time in a year | 42 percent |
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry is the preeminent global people and organizational advisory firm. We help leaders, organizations, and societies succeed by releasing the full power and potential of people. Our nearly 7,000 colleagues deliver services through our Executive Search, Hay Group and Futurestep divisions. Visit kornferry.com for more information.
