ReConnect Africa is a unique website and online magazine for the African professional in the Diaspora. Packed with essential information about careers, business and jobs, ReConnect Africa keeps you connected to the best of Africa.
While it may not be much consolation, your dilemma is one that seems to be increasingly common. A recent poll of more than 2,000 adults in the UK showed that, on average, British employees only use three-quarters of their annual leave each year. Even more worrying, the survey showed that more than two-fifths admit to working while they are on leave.
Even when people try to steer clear of the office, it seems that our co-workers don’t make it easy for us – almost 20% admitted that they had been contacted by a work colleague about office matters while they were away. The 24/7 connectivity of e-mail and smart phones makes it even more difficult to cut ourselves off from the world of work, and lying on a tropical beach no longer offers protection from office e-mails.
Fearing for your job is a natural reaction to the change and uncertainty going in your workplace but you need to remind yourself that if your job really isn’t safe, whether or not you go on holiday is likely to make little difference – so you might as well enjoy the break.
If you have a question for our Career Coach, e-mail us at
Too many of us find it difficult not to think about work while we are off on holiday. This might be out of fear of falling behind in our tasks and facing a big workload on our return or, in your case, for fear that you will appear not to be a ‘team player’. But if we don’t take the opportunity to fully switch off on occasion, we are risking far more than a job, i.e. our health. Continuous exposure to high levels of work pressure can lead to burnout, depression, exhaustion and a host of stress-related ailments.
Holidays are a necessary antidote to our daily hectic lives and you would be doing not only your family but yourself a great disservice if you didn’t make every effort to enjoy this long-awaited break.
While there is always going to be work piled up in your inbox, you have earned the right to have some time off and to recharge your batteries. A good vacation will help restore the energy and enthusiasm you’ll need to tackle the heavy workload that will be waiting for you on your return.
In the meantime, be fair to your family and to yourself by taking your vacation and enjoying your time away.
All the best!
Need some help to solve your career dilemma? Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, our experienced careers coaches can work with you – on an individual or group basis – to help you get back on track with your career.
From online CV checking to face-to-face coaching and presentation skills training to making the right impact at interview, our careers services will help you reach your goals.