When Employees Try to Unplug

How workplaces respond when employees take time off from work.

How workplaces actually respond

Workplace responses, side by side.

% of workers who described each workplace response to taking time off.

Encouraging

29%
Felt supported
and encouraged
19%
Took time off
despite the risks

Constraining

21%
Returned to a
heavier workload
18%
Felt subtle pressure
after returning

A growing share are stepping fully away

Length of disconnection.

Longest period workers disconnected from work without negative consequences in the past year.

19%
disconnected for a full week or more without consequences.
19%
had their longest break last just one to two days.