-
Link copied
A new report has revealed that construction employees are not using their full annual leave entitlement, which means that they could be working over their contracted hours
The Annual Leave Report 2024, conducted by Access PeopleHR, analysed data from more than 3,000 companies across different industries.
Construction has seen a 10.98% drop in annual leave taken per employee from 2022-23, and their average annual leave entitlement also dropped by 6.61% – the greatest out of all the industries surveyed.
Overall, construction ranked second in the list of 18 industries. On average, employees in the industry took 34 annual leave days in 2023 – down from 39 in 2022.
| Industry | Annual leave days taken (2022-23) |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | -11.85% |
| Construction | -10.98% |
| Financial and insurance activities | -9.11% |
| Education | -8.89% |
| Transportation and storage | -8.51% |
| Accommodation and food storage activities | -8.27% |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | -8.21% |
| Information and communication | -7.92% |
| Recruitment | -7.07% |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (utilities) | -6.63% |
Nationally, annual leave taken has dropped by 7.6% in the last year – and by 12% since 2020.
The report highlights the importance of taking time off, which can boost employees’ wellbeing, motivation and job satisfaction.
However, some companies struggled with challenges including staff shortages and increased workloads, which has made it difficult for employees to use their full annual leave entitlement.
Charles Butterworth, managing director at Access People, said: “Workers across the UK are under a great deal of pressure with rising household expenses, work-related stress and personal commitments. It’s more important than ever that people take time off to rest and recharge – so that they can come back stronger.
“But taking holidays should never feel like it’s part of the job. As revealed in the report, the number of employees taking their full annual leave entitlement has declined in all industries. There could be many reasons for this, like poor planning, anxiety about falling behind, or a heavy workload.
“Ultimately, it’s our duty as employers to help our teams book time off, whether this is through regular reminders or implementing a simple and efficient booking system.”
Butterworth added: “Companies need to take action and investigate why employees are reluctant to take time off, so that they can put strategies in place to support them.
“It’s also essential that companies and employers have a clear view of any requests, so that they can manage them instantly.”
