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British workers feel guilt about taking time off, research reveals

SD Worx found that 77.4% of employees in the UK said their organisation trusted them to work responsibly and not misuse remote working. 

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British employers have been found to trust their workers more than any other country in Europe, research from SD Worx found. 

However, the majority of UK workers still felt guilty about taking time off and struggled to properly switch off during summer holidays.

77.4% of employees in the UK said their organisation trusted them to work responsibly and not misuse remote working. 

73.6% of employers said they trusted their staff to work independently.

Despite this, 38.9% of UK employees admitted they felt guilty when taking time off and 30.4% said they found it hard to relax when not working.

Bruce Fecheyr-Lippens, chief people officer at SD Worx, said: “If elite athletes take complete breaks to recover, why shouldn’t we? 

“We recently spoke with the world’s number one women’s cycling team SD Worx-Protime, where every rider takes a three-to-four week break from the bike at the end of their season. 

“It’s a period of full rest, and they come back stronger. Professionals should be encouraged to do the same.”

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Fecheyr-Lippens added: “You can still read an industry article that inspires you or have a topical conversation with a new contact on the beach, but the key is to step away from day-to-day operational tasks and give your mind the space it needs to recover.”

SD Worx said flexibility helps build high-performing teams, with more organisations adopting hybrid or remote-first models. 

The company allows employees to work from any country where it has an office, as long as security protocols are followed. 

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Fecheyr-Lippens said: “Some days over summer I might work from 5am to 8am, then take the rest of the day off. 

“It’s about finding a rhythm that supports both output and wellbeing.

“If you give flexibility, you get responsibility. When employees are trusted to choose how and where they work, performance and morale improve.”

He added: “Society can make us feel we need to be ‘on’ all the time, but it’s up to individuals to break that cycle. 

“If your employer trusts you, take that at face value – give your job 100% when you’re working, but give that same 100% dedication to your time off, and don’t feel guilty for taking breaks. That’s what sustainable performance looks like.”

He added: “If managers aren’t living the values of flexibility and autonomy, they’re contributing to a toxic culture. 

“People don’t stay in environments where they feel watched, not supported.”

SD Worx advised employers to reinforce flexible working frameworks, support staff to take time off without guilt, empower managers to model trust and create environments where rest is seen as a performance enabler.

Fecheyr-Lippens said: “Work and life don’t need to be in conflict. When organisations get trust and flexibility right, people thrive – and so does the business.”

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