As Canadians head into the peak summer vacation season, new research suggests that while many employers encourage staff to disconnect from work during their time off, a significant number of employees continue to adjust their vacation plans due to workload pressures and concerns about falling behind.
A national survey conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of Employment Hero found that 63 per cent of respondents said their workplace actively encourages employees to fully disconnect while on vacation. In addition, 70 per cent of full-time workers said there is little or no expectation from management that they remain reachable during leave.
The findings point to a workplace environment in which many employers are signalling support for employees taking time away from work. At the same time, the survey suggests that workplace demands continue to influence how employees use their vacation time, even when formal expectations around availability have been reduced.
Workload pressures continue to shape vacation decisions
Among full-time employed Canadians with access to paid time off, 45 per cent said they had delayed, shortened or changed vacation plans because of workload or workplace pressures. The findings indicate that for many workers, the decision to take time off is shaped not only by company policies but also by concerns about managing responsibilities before and after a vacation.
Preparing for an absence remains a challenge for many employees. More than one-third of respondents, 37 per cent, said they often work extra hours before vacation to ensure work is completed before they leave. The survey suggests that for some workers, time away requires additional preparation in order to manage workloads and reduce disruptions during their absence.
Concerns about returning to a backlog of work also appear to influence how employees approach vacation. Nearly four in 10 respondents, 39 per cent, said they have at least occasionally avoided taking their full vacation entitlement because they worry about falling behind at work. The findings suggest that while paid time off may be available, some workers remain hesitant to use all of it because of concerns about workload management and productivity.
The survey also found that feelings of guilt remain common among some employees when taking time away from work. Forty-one per cent of Canadian full-time employees reported experiencing some level of guilt when taking vacation time. While the survey did not explore the reasons behind those feelings, the results suggest that workplace expectations and personal concerns about responsibilities may continue to affect how employees view time away from work.
“Employers are clearly trying to do the right thing by encouraging their staff to take real time away, and that matters,” said KJ Lee, CEO at Employment Hero Canada. “But in the current environment, with Canadians facing labour market uncertainty and continued pressure to perform, employees may still feel they need to stay visible, stay connected or work ahead before they take time off.”
The research also examined how employees engage with work while on vacation. Nearly half of full-time employees, 46 per cent, said they check work communications such as email, Slack, Teams or text messages at least sometimes while away. The findings suggest that even when employees are on leave, workplace communication remains a regular part of the vacation experience for many workers.
In addition to checking messages, one-third of respondents, 34 per cent, said they perform work tasks during their time off. The survey did not examine the specific reasons employees continue to engage with work while on vacation, but the findings indicate that maintaining some level of connection to work remains common among a substantial portion of the workforce.
The results are notable given that most respondents reported little or no expectation from management that they remain available while on leave. While workplace policies may support disconnection, the survey suggests that many employees continue to stay connected to work in some capacity during their vacations.
Employers focus on coverage and workload planning
For employers, the findings highlight the ongoing challenge of ensuring workloads are managed effectively while employees take time away. Planning for absences, assigning coverage and maintaining visibility into workloads remain important considerations, particularly during the summer months when vacation requests typically increase.
Businesses may be able to better equip themselves to support employees taking time off by ensuring there is a clear understanding of how responsibilities will be handled during an employee’s absence. “For SMBs, enabling employees to properly disconnect starts with clear planning and visibility into how work will be covered while people are away,” said Lee. “When businesses have that visibility, they can plan ahead, reduce last-minute pressure during peak vacation periods, and help ensure time off does not come at the expense of employee wellbeing or business continuity.”
The survey suggests that many Canadian employers have taken steps to reduce expectations around employee availability during vacation. At the same time, concerns about workload, preparation and staying on top of responsibilities continue to shape how many workers approach taking time away from the job.
