Bosses stay switched on when on holiday

Citation

(1999), "Bosses stay switched on when on holiday", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 20 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/lodj.1999.02220aab.002

Bosses stay switched on when on holiday

Bosses stay switched on when on holiday

Keywords Holidays, Individual behaviour, Management

A recent study by the Institute of Management has examined managerial behaviour whilst on holiday. Nearly seven in ten managers (69 per cent) make sure their office can contact them while they are away and 39 per cent are in touch with the office at some stage during their holiday.

Nearly half of bosses take work away with them. Packed in managers' suitcases along with the shorts and a beach towel, a third take work documents, 43 per cent a mobile phone and more than one in ten pack a laptop.

While 69 per cent of bosses are entitled to over five weeks' holiday a year, only 43 per cent take their full entitlement and nearly a quarter say their organizations do not encourage them to take their full holiday.

When it comes to the bosses' holiday hot-spots in 1998, over a third chose the UK. Sixty-eight per cent of managers are travelling abroad for their holidays, with Spain and the USA topping the list of foreign favourites. Over half of managers spend their holidays with their partner while 32 per cent take family holidays with the children. Twelve per cent take a break with friends and 4 per cent travel alone.

Asked to choose their ideal type of holiday, 52 per cent would opt for adventure, travelling and visiting different places and nearly one in five would choose a quiet retreat in the countryside. Lazing around on sun-drenched beaches would be the preference of 17 per cent and 10 per cent would favour an activity based holiday.

Managers' favourite way of spending time on holiday is travel and sightseeing (23 per cent), closely followed by reading (17 per cent), rest and relaxation (16 per cent), walking (16 per cent) and good food and drink (15 per cent).

"When it comes to the boss's break, out of sight is not out of mind. Many managers carry on working while away", says Mary Chapman, IM director-general. "Rest and relaxation recharge the batteries and brain cells, so you can return to the office with renewed vigour.

"Failure to make the most of holiday time can be damaging to people's effectiveness when they return to work."

Further information on the survey can be obtained from Karen Dale/Tricia Back at the Institute of Management. Tel: 0171 497 0496.