More than a third of legal professionals do not take their full annual leave allocation, a survey by recruiters Robert Walters has found.
Some 37% of those surveyed did not take all their holidays last year. An overworked one in ten took half or less of their annual leave, while a, no doubt stressed, quarter did not have time to take more than 70%. The reason, according to the research, is pressure to meet deadlines or because employers turn down holiday requests. Some feared that taking their contractually entitled amount of days off would jeopardise their chance of a pay rise or promotion.
Colin Loth, director of legal recruitment at Robert Walters, says: “As the race for talent picks up, it’s vital that your organisation stands out from the competition. In addition to minimising the risks posed by burnout and low morale, encouraging staff to take all their annual leave means your business is more likely to earn a reputation as an attractive place to work.
“While client needs will often take precedence, you can take steps to help staff plan for their holidays. By scheduling workloads appropriately and organising cover in advance, this will give them the opportunity to fully ‘switch off’ while away and ultimately return to the office feeling properly refreshed.”
