New
research show – not surprisingly – that nearly 60 per cent of employees dread
returning to work after holidays.
The
research from Investors in People – Exploring Employee Attitudes to Work –
shows that downcast employees, though refreshed by their break, need
inspiration from management after their holiday. Some 58 per cent just want
their boss to show they care, including 44 per cent who said that a simple
‘welcome back’ would increase their motivation. Only 13 per cent of employees
said their employer could do nothing to help their enthusiasm when they return.
The
research also highlights that change is on the minds of returning holiday
makers. More than half of employees (51 per cent) take action to improve their
work-life balance, such as booking another holiday or vowing to leave work on
time. A third of employees consider making changes to their work, either
seeking a new project (19 per cent) or looking for a new job (14 per cent).
Employers that fail to anticipate and address these issues risk falling morale,
lower productivity and employee departures.
Ruth
Spellman, chief executive of Investors in People, said: "You can
understand employees’ reluctance to return to the old routine, but it’s less
easy to see why bosses aren’t reacting as their workforce wavers before their
eyes. They’ve got to do what they can to help employees settle back in and keep
them motivated long after the tan has faded – or enthusiasm and productivity
will evaporate. Employers must take action before eagerness for change leads to
a determination to leave.
"And
it’s so clear that the simple steps count," she added. "It doesn’t
take much to say ‘welcome back’, and the research shows it could have a massive
effect on motivation. Exploring work-life balance initiatives can also be a
major boost because it shows employers care about employee needs, that they’re
willing to be flexible. Britain’s
bosses need to realise their own behaviour
makes a big difference. This research is a wake up call".
Other
findings:
–
Only 25 per cent of employees feel more refreshed and enthusiastic about work
than before they went away
– 25
per cent of employees cite a full in-tray or in-box as the one thing guaranteed
to undermine their enthusiasm on the first day back in work.
– 19
per cent note a lack of progress on projects in their absence
–
Only 38 per cent of employees feel a holiday improves their performance at
work.
– 52
per cent say their holiday has no effect on their input
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– On
returning from a break, 21 per cent of employees book another holiday, 19 per
cent vow to leave work on time and 11 per cent resolve to take a full lunch
break.
