More than three in four employees want to have work-life balance in the summer despite the pressure they feel to maintain the same level of productivity during the season.
This is according to a new poll from Dayforce, which surveyed 2,005 employees in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
It found that 79% of employees want to achieve work-life balance during the summer season to improve their wellbeing, with more than a third saying they plan to sneak some extra time away by:
- Logging off or leaving work earlier during the summer (47%)
- Extending lunches to take advantage of the warm weather (45%)
- Calling in sick when they’re not really sick to take an extra-long weekend or attend social events (40%)
- Using company messaging apps to make it look like they’re working, even when they’re not (34%)
- Leaving work early on a Friday without telling their manager (34%)
The pressure of productivity
The need to achieve work-life balance comes as 79% of employees feel at least some pressure from their employers to maintain the same level of productivity in the summer as the rest of the year.
A growing number of employees also reported that they cannot completely disconnect from work while on vacation.
According to the study, only 37% of employees can switch off work completely while on vacation, down from 39% in 2024, and 47% in 2023.
In fact, 16% of respondents admitted they missed out on time with family or friends because they needed to work while on vacation. Others said they:
- Informed their travel companions that they’d be working on vacation (19%)
- Worked secretly on vacation without anyone noticing (15%)
- Pretended they were sick while on vacation so they could work instead (11%)
Another 71% of employees are also worried that they might not be able to take a break during the summer because:
- Not being able to afford it (28%)
- Being too busy to take time off (20%)
- Not having enough vacation days remaining (18%)
What can employers do?
The findings add to growing research supporting the push for the right to disconnect, which allows employees to completely disconnect from work outside of their working hours.
The range of countries implementing the legislation has been growing over the years, including Belgium, France, Italy, Australia, Portugal, and others.
Dayforce said employers who want to create a culture where employees can take the time off they need should consider setting an example.
According to the poll, managers who encourage employees to use vacation time and fully disconnect, and who model that behaviour, help eliminate stigma around time off.
They should also consider the following strategies:
- Plan for vacations. Create coverage plans so employees can disconnect without worrying about work.
- Offer financial incentives to help with vacation costs.
- Ensure vacation policies are easy to access and understand.