UK managers still check e-mails despite being on holiday

Line managers spend almost an entire working day of their holiday checking e-mails, according to a poll.

The survey of 1,415 bosses, by employment law firm Peninsula, found they spend an average of six hours and 40 minutes answering work e-mails on their summer break.

It also discovered that 73% of employees ensure they have internet availability on their holiday.

Recent research by Credant Technologies revealed that one in five City workers checked their work e-mails two or three times a day on holiday.

Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, said: "Employees are becoming slaves to modern technology.

"E-mail has made it easier than ever to keep in constant contact with the office, so it is hard to get a true break from work. Employers should not expect employees to contact the office while on holiday, and instead should make provisions for their absence."

The survey was carried out by e-mail – although there was no mention of which beaches people answered it from.