Vacation work

A new survey from Adweek/Harris Poll finds that 46% of Americans say they will work during their vacation.

Survey results also indicate that only 40% of U.S. adults plan to take a vacation this summer, with 12% not sure if they will be able to squeeze in vacation time during the summer.

The Adweek/ Harris Poll surveyed 3,304 U.S. adults online between July 13 and 15.

“Vacations are seen as time to relax and unwind, among other benefits, but it seems many Americans continue to work during this purported downtime,” noted a statement from Adweek/Harris Poll. “Americans bring technology devices on their vacations as well, which some say may encourage them stay involved with work (monitoring emails, etc.) while others assert that spending an extended period of time without a relied-upon technology device may actually increase stress and anxiety.”

SURVEY FINDINGS
• Of U.S. adults who will work during vacation, 35% plan to monitor e-mails, 22% will check voicemail and 22% will take phone calls.

• 35% plan to do no work during their vacation.

• Men are more likely than women to work on their summer vacation (54% vs. 37%).

• Vacationing adults aged 35-44 are most likely to say they monitor emails (47% do vs. between 24% and 38% of all other age groups), those 45-54 are most likely to check voicemails (29% vs. between 15% and 25%) and the youngest group, aged 18-34, is most likely to occasionally take phone calls (26% vs. between 17% and 22% of other age groups who do the same).

• 81% plan to bring a technology device on vacation, with 50% bringing a laptop, 45% carrying a smartphone and 16% bringing an e-reader device.

• Among those who bring a tablet computer on their summer vacation, a third says it makes them more likely to do work on that vacation (32%) with one in five saying it makes them much more likely to do so (18%).