Eighty-six per cent of staff claim the resource gap created by colleagues taking holidays creates a drastic increase in workloads and sends stress levels sky-high.
According to a survey by recruitment consultancy Office Angels more than 67% of office staff claim they work about six hours a week extra covering for absent colleagues.
The survey, conducted among 1,500 office employees and employers, shows 64% of office workers dread the summer months. Only 25% prefer the positive aspect of summer in the office - the peace and quiet when people are away.
More than two-thirds (70%) of employees say a major bone of contention with holidaying colleagues is inadequate hand-over: 35% complain about being left to shoulder the extra workload, through sacrificing their lunch breaks; while 20% stay late at the office.
Despite the complaints more than half (52%) will complete work delegated by colleagues who are on holiday, as they expect the favour to be returned.
Only 10% find it acceptable to ignore work piling up in the in-trays of colleagues who are away.
Now that the holiday season is nearly over ITers could capitalise on the long lead-time and begin to prepare those hand-over notes for Christmas.
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