IT managers employed by both large users and suppliers are
underperforming in their work because they fail to relax on
holiday, it was claimed last week.
A survey of 5,919 managers by the Chartered Management Institute
found IT staff were more likely to work on holiday than managers in
any other industry.
According to the survey, 48% of IT managers checked their work
e-mails when on holiday, compared with 47% of managers in financial
services and 18% in the public sector. And over 60% of IT managers
monitored their work voicemail, compared with 42% of financial
services managers and 18% of public sector managers.
"We wanted to show there's a problem with people's ability to
switch off. If you are refreshed, you are better at your job," said
CMI spokesman Mike Petrook.
IT managers gave the fear of missing deadlines as the main reason
for working during holidays. Almost 40% of them blamed short-term
deadlines for the need to work during holidays. One-third blamed
the need for general care for their clients and 26 % the fear of a
backlog of tasks.
Petrook advised managers, "Be more confident in delegating to
people. Recognise that if there's an emergency, they will contact
you."