Millennials waste six days of annual leave per year on 'life admin', study finds

Doctor’s appointments, waiting in for packages and doing household chores among most common ways young workers get bogged down in 'boring' duties

Researchers who polled 2,000 young professionals found one quarter of their days off are spent carrying out "boring" tasks (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The average millennial "wastes" six days of their annual leave each year - on life admin, a study revealed.

Researchers who polled 2,000 young professionals found one quarter of their days off are spent carrying out "boring" tasks like doctor’s appointments, waiting in for packages and doing household chores.

Other days are spent taking the car to the garage, studying or doing personal admin.

Fifty-eight per cent of those polled even said they have been "forced" to do work during days off.

With this is mind perhaps it’s no wonder 42 per cent typically don't take all the annual leave they are entitled to.

Commissioned by Hotels.com, the research also found one in four have forgotten to book annual leave.

Sloan Sheridan-Williams, life coach and wellness consultant, said: “Taking a proper holiday is crucial for ensuring our emotional, physical and mental well-being.

“One of my top tips to make the most of your time off is to find clever ways to maximise your annual leave.

“This April, booking your holiday smartly will mean you can benefit from 24 glorious days off in a row using only 14 days of annual leave – giving you more time to do something exciting and properly switch off before you have to switch on the computer again.”

The study also found 14 per cent of respondents have been savvy enough to tactically book annual leave and ensure they get a long spell off work without making a massive dent in their annual allocation.

And 31 per cent are planning to do this before their colleagues get there first.

The research also found many resent ‘having’ to take leave for special occasions, with 14 per cent admitting they begrudge taking time off for weddings.

And one in 10 aren’t all that keen on booking time off to attend hen or stag dos.

As a result, 62 per cent have felt like they’ve wasted their annual leave and failed to make the most of it.

Even when those polled use their time off to unwind, many find it hard to "switch-off" – in fact it typically takes them an average of three days to forget about things back home.

This struggle to let go of work has even affected relationships, with 22 per cent admitting they’ve fallen out with their partner because they did work while on leave.

Typically young professionals check their emails an average of seven times during a week-long holiday.

And double the number of men - 30 per cent - take their work laptop or phone on holiday than women - 14 per cent.

It also emerged young workers don’t think they get enough annual leave – believing they should get 35 days of annual leave instead of the 23 they currently get.

Isabelle Pinson, Vice President, EMEA at Hotels.com, said: “Finding something fun to do with your annual leave is easier and more affordable than ever so it’s a shame to see young professionals either wasting or not taking their allocated holiday, even more so if they forget to book it altogether.

“We want to encourage everyone to make the most of their time off in 2018.

“If you have to use annual leave for events away from home such as weddings or birthdays, you can earn a free reward night for every 10 nights you book with Hotels.com.

“Leave the admin behind and spoil yourself with a hotel stay for free.”

SWNS