Jessica O'ConnorMore than a quarter of UK employees are missing out on over three weeks of annual leave each year, according to research from absence management platform Timetastic.
The findings come as Google searches for “signs of burnout” have increased by 150% over the past year.
Timetastic’s Britain’s Work-Life Balance Report, based on data from more than 180,000 employees, revealed that 26% of workers had over 15 days of unused leave remaining at the end of the year.
By contrast, only 18% of employees used their full annual entitlement, despite UK workers being legally entitled to 28 days of leave including bank holidays.
Sarah Crammond, customer success expert at Timetastic, said: “Taking time off isn’t just a perk, it’s essential for productivity, creativity, and mental wellbeing.
“But many workers still feel unable to fully switch off, which is having a major effect on employee engagement, long-term business performance, and overall wellbeing.”
Psychological factors appear to play a major role in why employees are not taking time off.
Dr Ravi Gill, practitioner psychologist and workplace wellbeing consultant at Smart Mind Health, explained: “One of the most common barriers is workplace guilt. Many employees feel they are letting their team down or increasing pressure on colleagues by being absent.
“This is particularly strong in high-responsibility or caring roles, where people may feel a heightened sense of duty and accountability.”
Gill added: “Another key barrier is presenteeism culture, which is the belief that being constantly available equates to being committed or high-performing.
“In environments where overwork is normalised or subtly rewarded, taking leave can feel like a sign of weakness or lack of dedication. The ‘hustle culture’ within modern society promotes this.”
The report warned that failing to take adequate time off has serious consequences for mental health and performance.
Prolonged periods without rest are linked to burnout, reduced cognitive function and emotional exhaustion.
Gill said: “Taking annual leave is essential for psychological recovery as work places ongoing demands on the mind and body, activating stress systems.
“Time off allows these systems to return to baseline, reducing physiological strain. Without adequate recovery, stress accumulates and can lead to longer-term health consequences.
“Not taking regular leave increases the risk of burnout, which leads to emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment.
“Research consistently shows that insufficient recovery time is a major predictor of burnout, as individuals are not given the opportunity to replenish depleted emotional and cognitive resources.”
