Two out of five lawyers opted not to take all their annual leave last year, new research has found.
The results of the Robert Walters Career Lifestyle survey provide a fascinating insight into the hard-working culture of the legal profession. One-third of those who gave up part of their annual leave blamed pressure to complete work projects on time. Some 13% feared falling behind in their work, and a further 13% felt guilty about leaving colleagues to cover for their absence.
Sam Walters, associate director at Robert Walters, said the research showed an increased workload across a range of sectors, particularly in financial services where many businesses face tight deadlines on compliance, in commercial property and in banking litigation.
Walters warned: “With the majority of legal employers facing talent shortages it is vital that managers recognise the importance of a good work life balance among their team, including encouraging their staff to use their annual leave.”
