British Airways Holidays’ new survey reveals 50% of UK working adults do not take their full annual leave allocation.*
The survey, commissioned by British Airways Holidays with YouGov Plc., found that more than a third of working Brits (36%) who did not take their full annual leave said it was because they ‘just didn’t get around to it’. Furthermore, a staggering 42% confessed that they have felt stressed about work whilst on holiday, and 46% responded that they have had to work on their leave. 48% have checked work emails whilst away and more than a third (39%) have gone one step further and responded.
With a cost-of-living crisis this winter and a recession on the horizon, no doubt many will be thinking it will be even harder to justify a getaway in 2023. However, a 40-year study by the European Society of Cardiology revealed that taking a holiday could help people live longer. The study suggested that men who took more than three weeks of leave per year were 63% more likely to live longer than those who took three weeks or less.** Meanwhile, British Airways Holidays’ new YouGov Plc. the survey also revealed that nearly 79% of those asked agreed that taking a break is good for their mental health. With this in mind, British Airways Holidays has launched a new campaign, that combines TV advertising, cinema, out-of-home, social media, and radio. Behind the campaign’s humor is an important message that holidays should be taken seriously with people urged to prioritize time away for their own well-being. As well as competitive pricing, British Airways Holidays offers a 24-hour helpline, carefully chosen hotels, and a generous 23kg per person baggage allowance, taking the hassle out of holidays, so customers can relax, rejuvenate, and switch off. Full details can be found at ba.com/holidays
“I am astounded by the results of our survey,” commented Claire Bentley, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays. “It’s clear that taking a break is vital for our mental and physical well-being, and it’s worrying that too many people feel unable to do so. While our new brand campaign conveys this in a comical fashion, the message behind it is a serious one. Here at British Airways Holidays we take holidays as seriously as our customers do, and offer a number of benefits to take the stress out of travel, so they can maximize their switch-off time.”
*All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 4,277 adults of which 2,410 are UK working adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21st – 24th of October 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).