Great Lakes Wire

Paid Time Off (PTO) is intended to give employees a break from work, but many workers are not fully disconnecting during their time away. According to an Eagle Hill Consulting survey conducted by Ipsos in October 2024, 24% of U.S. employees checked work messages during their most recent vacation and 5% continued actively working while away. While 58% said they fully disconnected, a significant number did not.

Cultural and structural issues contribute to this trend. Employees often worry about falling behind or returning to an overwhelming workload. Some feel pressure to remain available due to team expectations or company culture, and in some cases, critical responsibilities lack backup coverage.

Research shows that the benefits of PTO—such as reduced stress, increased creativity, and improved job satisfaction—only occur when employees completely disengage from work. If employees continue working during vacations, they do not experience these advantages and may face chronic burnout and decreased productivity over time.

Companies can address this issue by encouraging healthy boundaries. Leadership should avoid sending emails during off-hours or vacations and support policies that allow employees to disconnect without penalty. Organizations can also create clear expectations around availability and establish solid coverage plans so that staff can be unavailable while on leave.

Some employers have implemented measures like disabling email access during vacations or introducing mandatory unplugged PTO policies. These steps communicate that taking real time off is both accepted and expected.

"If employers want engaged, high-performing teams, they must protect the integrity of PTO," said Emily Price of SBAM-approved partner ASE. "Vacation should mean time away from work, not time logged in from a different location."

For more information on workplace trends related to employee well-being: https://www.eaglehillconsulting.com/insights/workforce-burnout-survey-october-2024/