- The survey shows that 92% of UK workers struggle to switch off mentally outside of work
- Only 1% said they never check emails, messages or perform work tasks outside of work hours
- The Always-On Workforce Report 2026 surveyed 1,500 professionals
A new report into the out-of-hours activities of British employees has found that workers seem to really like being at work – either that, or they find it hard to switch off from the intensity of their scheduled hours.
The Always-On Workforce Report 2026, conducted by MyPerfectCV, found that 92% of the 1,500 professionals it surveyed said they complete work tasks and respond to emails and messages beyond their scheduled hours.
In addition, workers have admitted to working while sick and feeling guilty when requesting annual leave – and interestingly, a significant proportion of respondents stated that management expectations drive their inability to switch off.
Working while sick
Of particular concern are the report’s findings relating to disease. Of the 1,500 respondents (500 from the UK and 1,000 in Spain, Italy, France and Germany), 91% of UK workers admitted to working while on sick leave. Additionally, 34% “often” worked while feeling unwell rather than take a sick day, and 57% admitted they did the same “occasionally.”
The study’s conclusion on these statistics is that they point “to a culture of attendance where employees feel compelled to push through illness rather than prioritize recovery.”
Meanwhile, annual leave is also a problem for British workers. Employers have a duty to responsibly handle annual leave requests, deny or deny requests with ample notice, and only refuse by citing valid business reasons, such as staff shortages. Yet, according to this survey, 31% admit they are worried when asking for their statutory holiday.
The mental disconnection struggle is real
An interesting finding from the report is what lies behind UK workers’ inability to “switch off”. 50% of respondents blamed heavy workloads, while a not inconsiderable 44% put it down to management expectations.
55% of employees admitted to checking emails, responding to messages and completing work tasks every day, which seems to point to a blurring of the line between professional and personal time. This is significantly higher than the European response of 29%.
Not switching off from work can have serious consequences for personal relationships and mental health. To underline this, 34% said they always find it “difficult to mentally disconnect from work during their time off.”
“Being ‘always on’ isn’t defined by one behavior—it’s the accumulation of small decisions to stay connected,” noted Jasmine Escalera of MyPerfectCV.
“Whether it’s checking emails on holiday, responding after hours or working through illness, the lines between work and private time have become increasingly blurred for many UK employees.”
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