13/07/2006

Hundreds of millions of pounds worth* of annual leave is being wasted every year as British employees pack up their laptops and Blackberries and take their work away on holiday with them.

Research by travel insurer, Churchill, reveals that more than one in ten of the British workforce (16%) will take their work away with them when they hit the beach this summer. Nearly a fifth (18%) will check their emails and one in ten (11%) will think about forthcoming projects and proposal documents. Six percent will even go as far as to prepare entire project plans.

A third (31%) will keep in touch with work colleagues while they are away via email, text message, phone and letter. Nearly a quarter of holiday-makers (23%) actually expect to be contacted by work colleagues whilst they are away.

Those most likely to work whilst they are on holiday are sales professionals, management consultants and people in recruitment. People in administration, customer services and engineering are more fortunate and rarely take their work on holiday.

The current situation, however, could be only the start of an emerging trend as work and leisure time becomes increasingly blurred in the future. Research by Churchill, in conjunction with the Centre for Future Studies**, found that by 2050, carrying out some form of daily work whilst on holiday will become an integral part of non-manual workers' roles. As technological developments and flexible working practices improve, holiday and travel plans are likely to become increasingly entwined with working life.

According to the Centre for Future Studies, the evolution of information technologies, such as Wi-Fi connections, high speed broadband and international audio and visual phones, only opens up more opportunities for working whilst on holiday. Even now, holiday destinations and hotels are selected on the basis of the connectivity they offer.

The research also shows that Brits have trouble winding down when they arrive at their destinations. On top of the 16 percent of people who take their work on holiday with them, a further quarter (23%) will worry about work whilst away and nearly half (46%) will have the stress of work backlogs and catching up looming in their minds as they get ready to return to work.

Mike Ketteringham, Head of Churchill Travel Insurance, comments:

"The research shows that we are a nation of workaholics and if we aren't taking work away with us on holiday, we're worrying about our to-do lists and forthcoming projects. Holidays are all about relaxing, making the most of time with friends and family and experiencing new things. However, in the future, we’ll be much more likely to naturally combine holidays with elements of work."

Previous research*** by Churchill Travel Insurance has already revealed that nearly six in ten workers have reached the end of the year and realised they still had annual leave to use up.

Notes to Editors:

* Research commissioned by Churchill Travel Insurance with 2,237 UK adults, May 2006.

Calculation:

28.94m (no. of people in UK employment in April 2006, ONS) / 100 x 16 (% of people who have taken work on holiday with them) = 4,630,400

Average salary £22,411 (Source: Payfinder 2005) / 261 (number of weekdays in a year) = £85.86

£85.86 x 2 (average number of days worked whilst on holiday) = £171.72

£795m = 4,630,400 x £171.72

** The World Travel 2050 Report commissioned by Churchill Travel Insurance, January 2006

*** Survey conducted among 2,018 respondents by Churchill Insurance, October 2005

For further information, please contact:

Abi Clark
Churchill Insurance
020 8313 5830
pressoffice@churchill.com