Suche
Mein Konto
Stress on vacation: Why employees can't switch off properly
Employees suffer from too little distance from work on vacation: study shows high levels of stress, early job checks and tips for switching off.
Stress on vacation: Why employees can't switch off properly
The trap of work stress on vacation
More and more employees in Germany are having difficulty recovering properly while on vacation. According to a representative survey commissioned by the Pronova BKK health insurance company, 24 percent of those surveyed feel little rest after their main vacation, while another 19 percent feel only moderately rested.
Many employees experience stress before and after vacation as they have to do extra work to organize their absence or complete tasks left behind. On average, respondents work eight hours of overtime before and after their vacation.
The temptation of work emails
Although almost half of those surveyed take at least 15 days off during their main vacation, for many the job is always present. Almost half check their emails while on vacation, and almost two thirds are contacted for work. Those affected spend an average of 1.3 hours on work every day of vacation, with young employees between the ages of 18 and 29 even reporting two hours. In this age group, only 48 percent feel very well or well recovered after their vacation, compared to the overall average of 57 percent.
Return to work mode early
For many employees, vacation often ends earlier than planned: 62 percent are already mentally back at work one or two days before the end. Three out of four managers switch back to work mode early to avoid chaos when they return.
The business psychologist and resilience trainer at Pronova BKK, Patrizia Thamm, emphasizes the importance of improved self- and time management in order to avoid overload before and after the vacation. The ability to mentally distance yourself is crucial in order to really enjoy your vacation and recover properly.