A report has found that the construction sector has seen the greatest drop in annual leave entitlement, and similarly low numbers in the amount of leave taken by employees
The annual leave report, conducted by Access PeopleHR, analysed data from over 3,000 companies to reveal that the construction sector has seen an 10.98% drop in annual leave taken per employee from 2022-2023, and their average annual leave entitlement also dropped by 6.61% – the greatest out of all the industries.
A new report reveals that employees in the construction sector are not using their full annual leave entitlement, which means that they could be working over their contracted hours.
Employees may not feel able to take their full annual leave entitlement
The construction sector ranked second out of 18 industries that gave up their annual leave.
On average, employees in the industry took 34 annual leave days in 2023 – down from 39 in 2022.
The annual leave report brings attention to the importance of taking time off, which can boost employees’ well-being, motivation and job satisfaction.
Presenteeism, where employees continue to work despite being ill, which often leads to a negative impact on the employee’s wellbeing as well as that of the business.
However, some companies struggled with challenges like staff shortages and increased workloads, which has made it difficult for employees to use their full annual leave entitlement. When compounded with the issues presented by presenteeism, companies can suffer significnat detriment.
The top 10 industries with the biggest decline in annual leave days taken:
| Industry | Annual leave days taken (2022-2023) |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | -11.85% |
| Construction | -10.98% |
| Financial and insurance activities | -9.11% |
| Education | -8.89% |
| Transportation and storage | -8.51% |
| Accommodation and food service activities | -8.27% |
| Professional, scientific and technical activities | -8.21% |
| Information and communication | -7.92% |
| Recruitment | -7.07% |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (utilities) | -6.63% |
Taking annual leave is part of a healthy work-life balance
Charles Butterworth, managing director at Access People, said: “Workers across the UK are under a great deal of pressure with rising household expenses, work-related stress and personal commitments. It’s more important than ever that people take time off to rest and recharge – so that they can come back stronger.
“But taking holidays should never feel like it’s part of the job. As revealed in the report, the number of employees taking their full annual leave entitlement has declined in all industries. There could be many reasons for this, like poor planning, anxiety about falling behind, or a heavy workload. Ultimately, it’s our duty as employers to help our teams book time off, whether this is through regular reminders or implementing a simple and efficient booking system.
“Companies need to take action and investigate why employees are reluctant to take time off, so that they can put strategies in place to support them. It’s also essential that companies and employers have a clear view of any requests, so that they can manage them instantly.”
