The majority of Australian knowledge-based employees feel that they are expected to work through Christmas holiday period, despite managers encouraging them to take time out, according to new research from digital HQ provider, Slack. Its findings reveal worryingly mixed messages from management about their expectations around time off during Christmas holiday period.
The study, “Holiday Season Survey”, of over 2,000 Australian office workers explores employees’ ability to switch off for the upcoming holiday season and the impact on workers and businesses.
Survey respondents reveal that the majority (84%) of managers say they will actively encourage employees to switch off during the holiday season, with a similar number (78%) being concerned that the pressure to be constantly available for work could lead to burnout among their employees. At the same time, 73% of Aussie bosses say there is at least some expectation for employees to be available over the holidays.
As a result, 67% of Aussie employees plan to be online during the festive season and 44% say they will be checking their work-related messages even when they have time off. These mixed messages mean that more Aussies are planning to take a ‘work-cation’ this year over the Christmas period potentially not getting the switch off time that they need. However, the survey highlights how those leaning into a flexible approach to work, supported by collaborative platforms are better placed to help staff unwind and stay productive.
Nicole Woodley, Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Slack said, “Many of us are still feeling the effects of the pandemic, and calendars are still being stacked full of meetings, meaning work is being pushed to early mornings and late into the night. People need a break and in today’s modern workplace, digital tools, like Slack, can help tame the overload by helping automate work and enabling better practices that managers can adopt.
“Executives need to lead by example when it comes to setting boundaries, and not respond to Slack messages and email, enabling workers to do the same when they take vacations, or even when we’re taking the kids to school. Otherwise, employees will likely vote with their feet and look for employers where they don’t just feel like a commodity, or move into quiet quitting mode, both of which have a clear impact on productivity.”
Medical practitioner and board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, Dr Jenny Brockis, said, “We know tired brains don’t think or operate well, which is why taking proper time off is a necessity not a nice to have, especially if we’re to get serious about reducing and preventing the modern workplace maladies of stress-related illness, physical illness including high blood pressure and heart disease, mental health challenges and burnout.
“As humans, we are more productive, more creative, and effective and let’s face it, nicer to be around when not struggling with overwork, chronic fatigue or stretched to beyond capacity, and this can only be achieved through having sufficient downtime to rest, relax, and restore. That’s why time off needs to be honoured, not diluted with justifications around needing to tie up loose ends, play catch up or to meet the expectation of others. It’s time to stop kidding ourselves that we don’t need a break over the holiday season. Everyone does.”
Naughty: Everyone wants to avoid burnout but nobody is doing enough to prevent it
Looking back to last Christmas, despite being off, over half of Aussie employees were contacted by their manager (52%), a colleague (55%) or a customer (52%) during their break. But who is to blame?
Despite good intentions, only one in four managers has no expectation of their employees to be available during their booked vacation and 7 in 10 managers (71%) of managers are expecting employees to check work-related messages during their holidays. The key reasons given for expecting staff availability are that customers expect it (64%), there are important tasks/projects that need driving forward (64%), that their employer expects it (62%) and that the manager themselves will be available and expects it (61%).
While office workers did give similar answers to managers as to why they would be available, not all of the impetus comes from their employers. Over three quarters (78%) say that it is due to their own drive or that it is important to them personally to work, that they will be able to work with fewer distractions (75%), that they are saving their holiday allowance for a different time of the year (73%), they have too much work to do (69%), they find it hard to switch off (69%), they’ve used all of their holiday allowance (61%) or they feel guilty seeing others working (61%).
However, helping employees to establish clear boundaries is critical, especially as almost a third (30%) of employees says it takes them more than three days to switch off during the holidays.
Many colleagues are worried that the pressure of being constantly available will lead to burnout (56%), seeing 73% of supportive colleagues encouraging coworkers to switch off during the holidays.
Nice: Leaning into technology and flexibility reaps rewards
When it comes to looking for a new role, the survey also revealed that three quarters of Australian employees are prioritising digital infrastructure and vacation policies that allow them to work how and when they want over other factors.
According to the findings, 78% of Aussie employees believe having good digital infrastructure is key to balancing work and private life, with 77% saying that it makes it easier to show managers, co-workers and customers that they’re on holiday and not to be disturbed. Notifications and statuses are two reasons for this; the majority (65%) of employees plans to keep their notifications on, while 64% plan to use a status to set expectations about their availability to work.
The research also found differences between those employees with flexible working arrangements and full-time office workers – while about half (55%) of workers with a hybrid work model say they will be available to work, this number rises to nearly three quarters (72%) for those who normally work full time in the office. And more office-based workers (70%) plan to keep their notifications on compared to those with a flexible approach to work (53%). Perhaps as a result, 61% of predominantly office-based workers shared that they are feeling more stressed about being available at all times, compared to those that work in a hybrid manner (46%).
Research Methodology
The survey was conducted among 2,001 office workers in Australia. The interviews were conducted by YouGov between 17th – 24th November, 2022, via an email with a link.
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