Summer Holidays Stress Workers Out

A new report reveals that going on summer holiday may be more stressful than

working. The study, by the UK’s Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM),

questioned 2,500 of its members about attitudes towards long summer breaks.

It found forty per cent of managers do not come back from a holiday feeling

relaxed. A worrying finding was that many workers came back from a holiday more

stressed than when they left. Many in lower- and upper-management positions

actually work while they are on vacation. The researchers discovered that 80percent

of those surveyed answer work-related e-mails, around 50 per cent make and take

business-related phone calls and 10 per cent go into the office. Over 90 per cent of

managers worried about returning to hundreds of e-mails.

Information technology and the weakened global economy are the main causes of

managers being unable to de-stress while on holiday. Penny de Valk, chief executive

of the ILM, said: "Gone are the days when people cut off contact with work for a

fortnight over the summer and made a complete break. While technology means

that it is easier than ever to work remotely, it also makes it extremely hard to

switch off. Uncertain economic times also mean that many UK employees are

keeping one eye on their job at all times, when what they really need is time away

from the office to rest and re-energise.” The study also revealed that on average, it

takes two days and seventeen hours into a holiday to totally unwind. Ten per cent

of managers said it took them up to a week to fully get into holiday mode.

2. STRESSED: What makes you stressed?

	In what way can the following be stressful?
English
Partners
Family
People
Technology
Shopping Working

3. ROLE PLAY: Choose one and say why its the best way to destress

4. SYNONYM MATCH:

5.STRESS DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS


b)	What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘stress’?
c)	What kinds of things stress you out?
d)	Do you think holidays are stressful?
e)	What do you think of managers who can’t stop working even when they’re on holiday?
f)	What are the best ways to reduce stress?
g)	Is stress dangerous?
h)	Should bosses tell managers to totally disconnect while on holiday?
i)	Should workers get paid if they answer phone calls and mails on vacation?

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	STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS
b)	Does information technology add to or reduce your stress?
c)	Do you find it hard to switch off from e-mail and computers?
d)	What should companies do to make employees take a proper break?
e)	How long does it take you to unwind?
f)	What do you know about stress and its dangers?
g)	What would you say to someone who worked while you were on holiday with them?
h)	Do you ever worry about a full e-mail InBox?
i)	What questions would you like to ask a manager who works on holiday?