Almost half of Irish workers didn't take all of their annual leave entitlements last year.
That’s according to figures released by Fáilte Ireland, which says over 1.6million days were lost by people who didn't book time off and couldn't carry them into this year.
According to Fáilte Ireland, those who didn’t book time off in 2020 lost on average of 7 days of holidays, meaning they couldn’t be carried over to this year.
The survey found a third of the working population won’t or are unsure about using their holidays before the end of the year.
Wellbeing
Dr David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist says: "Taking time for holidays is important. Regular breaks from the day-to-day have been proven to show enormous benefits for people’s overall wellbeing. Research shows that holidays can improve mood and reduce stress, combating things like depression and anxiety. Even short breaks have been shown to reduce perceived stress and reduce the stress hormone cortisol."
Lisa Finnegan, Vice President International HRBP, LinkedIn commented; “The past eighteen months has seen everyone in the Irish workforce go above and beyond, but it has taken its toll as many have neglected to take a proper break in order to rest and recharge. Research LinkedIn commissioned early in the pandemic revealed that half of Irish professionals were feeling stressed, and it simply isn’t sustainable to our mental health to continue carrying that burden without time off.
"Taking annual leave is essential for everyone to properly disconnect and avoid burnout. In much the same way that watering a houseplant is vital for it to flourish, it’s crucial that we prioritise our own wellbeing by investing some quality time in ourselves away from work."
