Brits are missing out on much-needed downtime, and it’s taking a serious toll on their health. New research from Timetastic has revealed that in 2024, 43% of British workers have not taken a full week’s holiday, despite having an average of 22-23 days of annual leave available to them.
What’s even more shocking? The average worker leaves five days of holiday unused, essentially giving up an entire working week of potential time off. It’s no surprise that burnout rates are on the rise. According to the OECD and the World Health Organisation (WHO), stress-related absenteeism in the UK has risen by 30 per cent in the last five years.
Oliver Higenbottam, managing director of Timetastic, says: “Individual days off simply do not allow employees to fully recover,” he says. “Short breaks help, but research consistently shows that a full week’s holiday provides the deep recovery needed for sustained work, creativity and mental wellbeing.”
Dr Claire Merrifield, GP and medical director at Selph, adds that not taking adequate rest can have life-threatening consequences.
“People who don’t take annual leave are more likely to die of a heart attack,” she warns. “A week off allows for psychological safety, relaxation and a better metabolism, which increases energy, reduces stress and even reduces fat storage. Put simply, skipping holidays can make us less productive, less creative and worsen our overall health.”
Some countries have already recognised the benefits of taking long breaks, while others are lagging behind. The Timetastic study reveals key differences.
The best in terms of weekly break duration:
Germany: 69% of workers will take a full week or more off in 2024.
United Arab Emirates: 59.8% took a full week or more of holiday.
Ireland: 59.6 % took an extended holiday.
Worst for extended leave:
Canada: Just 6% of employees took a full week of leave, the lowest rate in the world.
France: 30% took a full week’s leave despite a generous leave policy.
United States: 33 % took long breaks, hampered by the country’s lack of mandatory paid leave.
Interestingly, countries that encourage longer holidays are also among the most productive per hour worked, according to the OECD’s labour productivity data. At the same time, countries where workers avoid taking full week breaks, such as the US and Canada, have higher levels of burnout and lower efficiency.
Taking a full week off has proven benefits: reduced stress levels, increased engagement and improved overall productivity. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), companies with a strong leave culture have 23% lower employee turnover and 17% higher job satisfaction.
So why aren’t Brits taking the holiday they need? Workplace pressures, staff shortages and the fear of falling behind in life all play their part.
“Skipping holiday doesn’t make employees more productive, quite the opposite,” says Oliver. “If companies want to achieve sustained success, they need to normalise the practice of taking full, uninterrupted weeks of leave.”
