Are you guilty of STILL working while on holiday?

British workers still email on holiday

by Gemma Francis |
Updated on

British workers only feel out of their boss’s reach when they travel at least 1,000 miles for a holiday, a study has found

A poll of 2,000 employees found one in five are more likely to answer calls from the office or respond to emails if they stay close to home.

But popular tourist hotspots in south of France are only around 650 miles away from London.

One third even said they only feel they can completely forget about work if they go on a long-haul holiday, with Florida, Australia and New Zealand the most popular choices to really escape the office.

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Sean Doyle, from British Airways, which commissioned the research as part of its ‘Discover a Different Side to Florida’ campaign, said: “Sometimes, you just want a quick getaway and don’t want to go too far.

“But if you really want to switch off from work and forget about what’s happening in the office, you may want to head further afield.

“Going on a long-haul trip also gives you a great opportunity to take in a different side to life than the one you are used to, at the same time as being able to switch off from work for a while.”

The study found 47 per cent of people find it difficult to switch off from work when they are meant to be on annual leave, with 23 per cent admitting it is easier if they go to a long-haul destination.

In fact, 22 per cent think they are more likely to reply to work emails or take calls from their boss, colleagues or even clients if they stay close to home.

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Three in 10 of these say their boss feels they are still contactable as they haven’t gone too far, while 41 per cent believe being in a similar time zone makes them seem more available.

As a result, 43 per cent of fed-up workers have been tempted to switch off their phone altogether to avoid their boss catching up with them when they are meant to be enjoying their time off.

And 46 per cent have ignored a work call or email because they felt they shouldn’t have to deal with it, leading to trouble for 14 per cent when they get back into the office.

It also emerged more than half of workers will still check their emails when they are on holiday, with three in 10 actually sending messages back.

While almost six in 10 check their emails from their hotel room, almost one in four will have a sneaky look by the pool and one in five have looked while at the beach.

Three in 100 workers have even gone through their inbox while in the swimming pool.

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It’s not just emails though as around one in four have taken a call from their boss or colleague and a fifth have completed some work from their holiday destination.

The poll, carried out via OnePoll.com, even found one in 10 believe their boss expects them to check and respond to emails while they are on holiday.

And one in five went as far as to say they think their boss looks down on people who refuse to deal with work calls or emails out of the office.

Still not 100% holiday ready? These celeb body transformations might inspire you

Gallery

CLOSER Celebrity weight transformations - slider

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Spencer Matthews, 2011

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Spencer Matthews, 2019

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Stevi Ritchie, 2014

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Stevi Ritchie, 2019

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Scarlett Moffatt, 2015

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Scarlett Moffatt, 2016

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Kelly Brook, 2010

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Kelly Brook, 2018

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Tina Malone, 2014

Shameless star and Celebrity Big Brother big mouth Tina Malone was a size 26 when she left the BB house in 2014.

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Tina Malone, 2017

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Gary Barlow, 1996

The Take That frontman shared this photo in February 2018 to remind himself how far he's come in his weight loss journey. Gary went up to around 16st after Take That split in 1996.

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Gary Barlow, 2017

These days, Gary eats healthily and takes part in yoga every week. He now weighs less than 12st.

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Josie Gibson, 2010

When Josie won Big Brother in 2010, she was a size 20 dress size and reportedly weighed 16st 17lb.

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Josie Gibson, 2012

Josie famously went through a huge weight loss transformation in 2012, dropping to a size 8 and reportedly weighing 10st 2lb.

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Mariah Carey, 2017

Mariah Carey stepped out in August 2017 with her boyfriend Brian Tanaka in New York.

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Mariah Carey, 2017

Just three months later in October, she looked dramatically different - and was reported to have undergone liposuction.

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Lisa Riley, 2012

Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley was known for her size 28 frame, but fans were pleasantly surprised by her sprightliness whilst on Strictly Come Dancing in 2012.

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Lisa Riley, 2018

Lisa went under a huge lifestyle overhaul, losing a whopping 12 stone and dropping from a size 28 to a 12 before having her excess skin removed in 2017.

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Dawn French, 2005

Everyone's favourite comedienne Dawn French previously weighed around 19st.

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Dawn French, 2018

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Katie Hopkins, 2014

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Katie Hopkins, 2015

It turned out Katie's rapid weight gain was for a documentary to prove how easy it is for her to lose weight - which she did in just a few months. But we can't help but think it was all a bit of a, errr, pointless exercise?

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TV chef Tom Kerridge weighed a dangerous 30st which he says was due to a lifestyle of late night drinking and overeating.

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Tom Kerridge, 2016

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Brooke Vincent, 2017

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Holly Willoughby, 2015

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Holly Willoughby, 2017

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Khloe Kardashian, 2012

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Khloe Kardashian, 2017

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Jennifer Hudson, 2007

Singing sensation and The Voice judge Jennifer Hudson was a size 16 when she first came to our attention as the American Idol winner in 2007.

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Jennifer Hudson, 2018

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Christina Aguilera, 2012

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Christina Aguilera, 2016

The pop megastar dropped two stones by 2016 thanks to cutting out bad foods and being very strict with booze. But we're glad to see she's still rocking those curves!

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Cheryl, 2015

Nation's sweetheart Cheryl Tweedy has always been super slim but she sparked concerns with her fragile frame during X Factor filming in 2015.

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Cheryl, 2018

Cheryl quickly lost the pregnancy weight after giving birth to baby Bear in 2017. She was looking slim but strong at the Brit Awards 2018.

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Melissa McCarthy, 2014

The hilarious Melissa McCarthy weighed just under 19st in 2014 after her brilliant performance in Bridesmaids.

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Melissa McCarthy, 2017

5ft 2 Melissa lost an amazing 75 pounds through a very strict diet and exercise regime. She looks happier (and even more amazing!) than ever.

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Rebel Wilson, 2010

Actress Rebel Wilson defied the typical Hollywood body when she starred in Bridesmaids with fellow actress Melinda McCarthey.

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Rebel Wilson, 2017

In 2016 Rebel looked great after losing eight pounds at a fitness retreat in Malibu. By 2017 she'd lost an incredible 33 pounds!

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Jonah Hill, 2007

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Jonah Hill, 2018

What a difference a year makes! He said he lost the weight and toned up by cutting out beer, seeking a nutritionist and getting tips from 21 Jump Street co-star Channing Tatum.

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Holly Hagan, 2011

Geordie Shore star Holly Hagan admitted to having a poor diet of junk food and booze when she weighed 13 stone and wore a size 16 in 2011.

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Holly Hagan, 2018

Holly said she wasn't happy with her fluctuating weight and took a lifestyle overhaul to drop to a size 8. She also spent £6000 on a boob job.

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Sam Smith, 2015

The whole world fell in love with Sam Smith after releasing his debut album, but Sam has since said that he will always be self conscious of being in the public eye because he loves food so much.

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Sam Smith, 2017

Sam hired a nutritional therapist in 2015 and reportedly lost a stone in just two weeks. He then continued a healthy lifestyle by transforming his relationship with food - he's shredded 3.5 stone in total!

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Charlotte Crosby, 2013

The Geordie Shore star's weight has always fluctuated but she went from a size 10 to a size 16 a year after being crowned the winner of Celebrity Big Brother.

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Charlotte Crosby 2018

She dropped to a size 6 before releasing her workout DVD in 2015. Recently, she spoke about how her breakup with Stephen Bear helps her keep a 'revenge' body.

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After seeing unflattering bikini photos of herself at the beach, Geordie Shore's Vicky took dramatic steps and shrunk from a size 16 to a size 6 in five months.

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Vicky Pattison, 2018

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Frankie Essex, 2015

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Frankie Essex, 2018

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Joe McElderry, 2013

X-Factor winner Joe McElderry won the nation's hearts with his cute smile and amazing voice in 2009.

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Joe McElderry, 2018

He has transformed into a total gym BUFF while preparing for a West End role. He told Loose Women: 'I never promote anything apart from being healthy and fit. That is my message, doesn't matter what shape or size you are'

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Ricky Wilson, 2005

Living the rock and roll lifestyle took its toll on Ricky Wilson's weight, skin and general health. I predict a diet...

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And we were right! We had to take a double look when he turned up to judge The Voice looking noticeably slimmer and healthier in 2014!

Tom Fletcher before65 of 74
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Tom Fletcher, 2005

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Tom Fletcher, 2018

But Tom is healthier than ever and even posts work outs that he does with his son Buzz - possibly the cutest gym buddy ever?!

Rob Kardashian, before67 of 74
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Rob Kardashian, 2016

Rob gained over 100lb while struggling with diabetes, depression and anxiety.

Rob Kardashian, after68 of 74
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Rob Kardashian, 2018

But Rob's recent Instagram posts like this suggest that he's lost the weight. He also posted a throwback to when he was bigger, along with the caption: 'I don't look like this anymore ud83dude02 #thetransformationiscoming #staytuned #nosurgery #putinwork'

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Jazmine Franks, 2017

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Jazmine Franks, 2018

But the star now looks seriously lean after dedicating herself to a new fitness routine and healthier lifestyle.

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Laura Barton, 2014

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Laura Barton, 2018

After exercise and cutting out sugary drinks, Laura lost three stone within three years.

Emma Chawner, 200773 of 74
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Emma Chawner, 2007

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CREDIT: Facebook

Emma Chawner, 2019

Fast forward 12 years since her first audition and Emma revealed after swapping junk food for a healthy lifestyle she dropped 12 stone in just two years.

Working while away causes friction with families though as 31 per cent say checking emails or taking calls on holiday has led to arguments with their partner or children.

Sean Doyle added: “In a day and age where we are constantly connected to work, we offer a range of flights and holidays to suit our customers who would like to head further afield to truly switch off.

"Florida, which topped the list of destinations to feel truly free from work, is a great option with lots of offers within our ‘Discover a different side to Florida' campaign”

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