77% of Employees Experience Post-PTO Anxiety: Glassdoor

A Glassdoor report reveals that 77% of employees feel anxious about returning to work after vacation, experiencing emotions from malaise to anger. This stress often stems from unclear expectations and difficulty disconnecting from work during leave. Many continue working while on vacation, leading to burnout and thoughts of quitting. Clearer communication of expectations are needed to address these issues, reports HR Dive.

Glassdoor’s survey of 3,000 professionals found that although HR policies clearly outline PTO parameters, persistent ambiguity surrounding supervisor and team expectations, such as unclear task assignments and mixed feelings about taking time off, causes significant stress. 

Consequently, 84% of women and 71% of men experience anxiety about returning to work after PTO. A study from UK health and safety consultancy Arinite indicates that women are more susceptible to workplace stress due to the demanding nature of their careers and family obligations.

Similarly, the survey reveals that anxiety levels are notably high in law (83%), advertising (80%), and accounting (78%) due to the demanding, high-pressure environments of these industries, which amplify concerns about workload and expectations when returning from vacation.

Findings point to a critical need for clearer communication and support to address the challenges workers face in managing their workload effectively after taking time off. Glassdoor suggests that leaders implement pre- and post-PTO check-ins. Establishing clear expectations about productivity and setting a positive example by using their own PTO can also help employees feel more comfortable taking time off.

Additionally, governments can help by implementing legislation that prevents work from encroaching on personal time. For example, Australia recently passed a “right to disconnect” law, which protects employees from work communications outside of regular hours, thus promoting a healthier work-life balance, according to MBN.

Without addressing these issues, there's a growing risk of increased "quiet vacationing," where employees take time off without officially using PTO and maintain the appearance of working remotely during these covert breaks, states MBN. This practice could potentially diminish overall company productivity, as reported by MBN.