People are finding it harder to switch-off from work when taking their annual summer holiday, new research shows.
A third of people work while away on annual leave to try to stay ahead of their heavy workloads, the study of 2,500 managers found.
Around 40% do not return from holiday feeling relaxed and 90% are worried that they will return to find an inbox full of emails.
Of those who work when on holiday, 80% frequently respond to emails on their Blackberries or smartphones, almost half take phone calls and one in ten even go into the office, the Institute of Leadership and Management found.
It takes employees an average of two days to unwind while on holiday, with 10% saying it takes a week to fully de-stress.
The institute’s chief executive Penny de Valk said: “Gone are the days when people cut off contact with work for a fortnight over the summer and made a complete break.
“While technology means that it is easier than ever to work remotely, it also makes it extremely hard to switch off.
“Uncertain economic times also mean that many UK employers are keeping one eye on their job at all times, when what they really need is time away from the office to rest and re-energise.
“It is a real concern that so many employees return to the office after annual leave feeling more stressed than when they left. This anxiety is almost certainly due to the high workloads we anticipate returning to, and the fear of what might be waiting for us when we get back.”