Do Canadians need to relearn how to recharge?

According to Randstad Canada's recent Workmonitor survey, 40% of employees choose to handle work related matters on their time off

TORONTO, July 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - According to the recent Randstad Canada Workmonitor survey, 59% of Canadians say they don't mind handling work related matters on their own time  - especially those aged 18 – 24 (73%). Furthermore, 57% of Canadian employees say that, outside of regular work hours, they respond to work related emails and calls immediately. And a significant proportion admit they can't unplug even on vacation:  40% of Canadians say they choose to handle work related matters during their holidays because they like to stay involved. And there's a big difference between the sexes, as men are much more likely (48%) to handle work related matters during their holidays compared to women (33%). But with summer vacation upon us, it's important to remember the importance of unplugging and letting yourself recharge.

"These numbers tell us a lot about Canadian workers' dedication to their work and their sense of professional responsibilities, but at the same time, Canadians' need to stay connected could actually be causing their exhaustion," says Faith Tull, Senior Vice-president, Human Resources, Randstad Canada. "Today's organizations know how important employee retention is to their success. Letting people rest, get away from the stressful demands of their work environment and have their batteries recharged is essential to keep them motivated and ready to tackle new challenges with a fresh mind," adds Tull.

Employer expectations and finding balance

Do employees feel pressured by their employers to be productive even during their time off? While 53% of Canadian employees say their employer expects them to be available outside regular office hours, 60% don't agree with the statement that their boss wants them to be available by email or phone when they are on holidays. Looking at the differences between men and women, more men say they feel pressured - (60%) men and (45%) women.

"As employers, we have the responsibility to ensure the well-being of our employees and help them strike for the right balance between their work and personal lives. We need to encourage them to disconnect completely from time to time, and be careful as managers not to blur the lines between home and work," says Tull.

What are the best ways to help you truly disconnect from work and enjoy our time off to the fullest? Here are some useful tips.

Four keys to make the most of your time off

Clean your inbox
To make sure you leave without unnecessary stress and anxiety, get as much done as you can before you leave, even if that means putting in a few extra hours the days leading up to your holidays: clean your inbox, respond to voice mails, Facebook or LinkedIn messages, go through your to do list, so you won't have old unattended tasks to take care of but fresh new mandates.

Delegate to trusted coworkers
If you are afraid some things will fall into the cracks, delegate some tasks to trusted colleagues while providing them sufficient background info and offer to do the same when they go away.  Make sure you indicate in your out of office notifications who people should contact for both urgent and non-urgent issues.

Turn off your office email alerts on your phone
This is probably the most obvious and yet the most difficult thing to do! Once you start to look at one email that just popped up, it is very tempting to start looking at new unread emails and start responding, so the best solution is to turn off notifications altogether, including tasks, meetings and events organizer apps.  If you do need to check-in and respond to emails, set up a specific and limited time every day, for example, after 5 to avoid people starting to interact with you live.  

Focus on your holiday activities
Your main task during your time off is to relax. So focus on your daily vacation programming, whether it's chilling out on a beach with a good book or visiting the latest exhibit to a popular museum. You never know how the new things you discover or the people you meet will enrich your professional and personal lives and lead you to come up with new perspectives. Be present with the people you spend time with, as this is the best time to connect and make the most of your interactions with your loved ones. 

About Workmonitor: The Randstad Workmonitor was launched in 2003, and now covers 33 countries around the world, encompassing Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Americas. The Randstad Workmonitor is published four times a year, making both local and global trends in mobility regularly visible over time. The quantitative study is conducted via an online questionnaire among a population aged 18-65, working a minimum of 24 hours a week in a paid job (not self-employed). The minimal sample size is 400 interviews per country, using Survey Sampling International. Research for wave 2 was conducted between April 17 and May 4, 2015.

About Randstad Canada: Randstad Canada is the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services. As the only fully integrated staffing company in the country, we understand the recruitment needs and demands of employers and job seekers across all levels and industries. Through our insightful knowledge of local markets, employment trends and global network of recruitment experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. Visit randstad.ca  

SOURCE Randstad Canada

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