Change has become an almost commonplace thing in the modern workplace, and with the increasing pace of change comes the increasing pace of the workforce, too. It’s no wonder, therefore, that a concerning trend seems to be emerging amongst employees – ‘holiday hoarding’.

This phenomenon occurs when employees become increasingly hesitant to utilize their full annual leave. Recent studies reveal that a significant portion of the workforce is not taking full advantage of their entitled leave. According to Breathe’s 2024 Holiday Report, only 35% of UK workers use all their allocated holiday days, with 17% having five or more unused days annually. Similarly, research by FRS Recruitment found that over 40% of employees did not utilize their full holiday entitlements, with nearly 20% leaving a week’s worth of leave unused.

Whilst this may not seem like a huge cause for concern, an employee’s reluctance to take time away from work can stem from many potential root causes that may signify a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. Here are just some potential factors that could be contributing to this reluctance to take time off:

• Staff Shortages and Increased Workload – Breathe’s Holiday Report discovered that 42% of employees cite understaffing as a primary reason for not taking leave, fearing that their absence would overburden remaining staff or disrupt operations.
• Perceived Negative Impact on Career – approximately 26% of workers worry that taking holiday might negatively impact perceptions of their productivity or commitment, leading them to forgo their entitled leave.
• Lack of Encouragement from Employers – only 37% of employees feel their organization encourages them to disconnect during holidays, leading to a culture where taking leave is not actively promoted.
• Desire to Avoid Work Backlog – many employees choose to work during their holidays to prevent a backlog upon return. In fact, 57% admit to working either ‘sometimes’ or ‘often’ while on annual leave.

Employees who actively neglect taking some time off vastly increase their risk of burning out, which snowballs into decreased job satisfaction and lower overall productivity. Employers therefore need to be addressing this epidemic of holiday hoarding head on, and there are a variety of ways they can do this:

• Promote a Culture of Rest – encourage leadership to model taking time off and openly discuss the importance of rest for productivity and wellbeing.
• Implement Clear Leave Policies – ensure that leave policies are transparent, accessible, and supportive of employees taking their full entitlement without guilt or fear of negative repercussions.
• Address Staffing Issues – work towards adequate staffing levels to reduce the pressure on employees and make it feasible for them to take leave without overburdening colleagues.
• Regularly Monitor Leave Balances – keep track of employees’ leave balances and proactively encourage those who consistently underutilize their leave to schedule time off.

By understanding and addressing the underlying causes of holiday hoarding, employers can foster a healthier work environment that values rest and recognizes its critical role in employee performance and satisfaction. If you would like to discuss how we can help ensure that holiday hoarding doesn’t get the chance to snowball into an issue for your company, please get in touch with us today!