‘Indian professionals do office work up to 3 hrs on holiday’

[1]

Most of the Indian professionals are unable to banish work while on a holiday, working up to three hours instead of enjoying the free time with family and friends, a survey revealed.

The study released by workplace solutions provider Regus noted that 53 per cent of the Indian surveyed will not be relaxing properly this summer holiday, but trying to fit in up to three hours work each day instead of relaxing by the pool or spending time with their families and friends.

Among the hard-core workaholics, 27 per cent of respondents work over three hours each day on holiday, neglecting loved ones to feed their work addiction, it said.

The survey conducted among 16,000 respondents in more than 80 countries including India owed the behaviour to development in technology as a majority of those surveyed were glued to their smartphones and netbooks.

Of the total respondents 51 per cent declared that they will still be operating on a slightly reduced 'business as usual' from the holiday destination, the survey said.

"Developments in technology mean that workers are always connected and the temptation to check emails and complete any tasks that follow on from them is easy to succumb to," Regus Regional Vice President South Asia Madhusudan Thakur said.

"With smartphones, netbooks and internet connections everywhere it has become very difficult to really switch off, but taking a break and devoting time to rest, family and friends is vital to remain healthy," he added.

The firm noted that combining work with play while on a vacation can only bring workers one step closer to burnout and spoil the fun for everyone.

"...instead of enjoying some free time with their nearest and dearest, they will try to juggle all the stress of work alongside disgruntled partners and disappointed children," Regus said.

Thakur suggested that Business firms need to urgently look at ways of increasing efficiency and productivity in order to ensure workers do not carry work over into their personal time and in effect harm their health and happiness.

"By introducing more flexibility and allowing workers to reduce commute time and work closer to home, businesses can become more efficient leaving workers free to really switch off when they are on holiday," Thakur said.