A new study by Accor and IPSOS has highlighted the growing trend of ‘blurring’, where workers’ professional lives are becoming increasingly intermingled with their personal lives.
According to the research, 86% of Brits take a work mobile on holiday, with 40% even taking a work laptop away with them. Almost three quarters (73%) extend work into their holidays.
Work is also encroaching on their everyday lives – nine out of ten admit to working, checking or sending business emails in the evening, and 40% check their emails in bed before going to sleep.
When asked why they work out of hours, 82% said they feel obligated to, despite only 60% feeling that this work will facilitate professional development. Some 62% say their role requires a high level of involvement, 27% do it to show commitment, and 14% simply say everyone at work does it.
The impact of blurring is far-reaching. The majority of respondents said they feel guilty for not spending as much time as they would like with loved ones, and 72% said work devices impact on their personal life. Over a quarter (27%) are rebuked by loved ones for not switching off, leading 13% to hide their out of office work from loved ones.
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