Managers in the charity sector are forgoing their annual leave because they are afraid they will fall behind with work, according to a survey of 106 sector managers.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) carried out an online survey of 838 senior staff among its members, including 106 from the voluntary sector, in May this year.

The results show that fewer than half of the charity respondents had booked a summer holiday so far (44 per cent), with nearly ten per cent of the rest saying that they are not going to at all. The most common reason given was an overwhelming workload.

Despite being ostensibly on holiday, most go away still planning to work in some form. Only a quarter say they never check their their work email on holiday, with 8 per cent doing so daily, 19 per cent “most days” and a third “once or twice” a week.

Just over a quarter (28 per cent) of charity managers said that they work more than eight hours extra in the week leading up to their holiday, in an attempt to stem the flow of additional work that they anticipate will await them upon their return.

Holiday-making senior staff are also afflicted by a plethora of back-to-work anxieties, such as dealing with the consequences of bad decisions made in their absence; readjusting to the job’s routine; and forgetting their log-in password.

A well-earned break is ‘important’

Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of strategy, insisted that those who do decide to get away are doing the right thing. “With the economy in a rut, managers are working harder and longer – it’s about time some of them took a well-earned break,” she said.

“[Doing so] will pay dividends when they come back healthier, happier and full of renewed enthusiasm.

“Of course taking time off can be tricky, but by arming yourself with the skills and techniques you need to manage yourself and your teams effectively, you can make the most of your time at work – and make it easier to take a break.”

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