Bupa has published a report which reveals that 44 per cent of people face a dramatic increase in workload increase throughout the summer as a result of too many employees going on holiday at the same time.
Furthermore, 64 per cent of employees feel under pressure from picking up another employees workload over the summer period. The study surveyed more than 2,000 employees. Dr Tim Woodman, medical director at Bupa, said:
“Conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety are not just winter-related issues and employers cannot afford to forget to focus on wellbeing, whatever the weather.Practical steps must be taken to ensure staff are not inadvertently overloaded with work and remain productive and motivated."
Moreover, 41 percent of staff members feel under pressure before they leave to go on holiday, making sure they take on extra duties in preparation for leaving for their own holiday. Furthermore, a third of employees even worry about being expected to respond to emails or phone calls when they are on holiday.
However, there are measures that can be implemented in the workplace to ensure that employees do not suffer from this pressure.
- Ensure there is enough staff to cover staff holidays, especially in summertime when most people tend to take their annual leave.
- Make sure employee holidays are spaced out. A fair system should be employed to facilitate this. This will help relieve the pressure on workers in the office if extra staff cannot be employed.
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