Tag: Lockdown

50% of workers taking leave in December
According to the latest from CV-Library, a UK independent job board, Government’s advice to carry on with Christmas plans is welcome news to UK professionals.

The survey revealed that just over 50% of UK workers are planning to take time off this Christmas with 38.5% of those doing so purely to make up for spending Christmas in lockdown in 2020. Workers want to make the most of the festive season and spend time with family, friends and loved ones, having been denied the opportunity in 2020.

Of the 2,000 respondents, 74% reported that they are not offered any incentive to work over the Christmas period with 55% admitting that they really don’t enjoy working at this time.

Respondents were asked what the pros and cons were and CV-Library has exclusively revealed the results:

Worst things about working over Christmas (based on top three answers) 

  1. 77% Missing out on spending time with family and friends
  2. 22% Missing out on Christmas parties
  3. 22% Having to stay in the festive spirit, even though you’d rather be at home
  4. 20% Irritable/stressed customers and clients
  5. 17% Working longer hours

Best things about working over Christmas (based on top 3 answers) 

  1. 40% Christmas bonuses
  2. 33% Christmas music
  3. 28% A more relaxed working environment
  4. 25% Staff social events
  5. 4% Jolly customers

Secret Santa has also been impacted by the pandemic. A mere 27% of professionals say they will be playing the game in their workplace this year, with 23% admitting they used to, but have stopped since the onset of the pandemic.

Lee Biggins, Founder and CEO of CV-Library commented: “Profits are vital, but a balance is required. The commitment and efforts of staff are key to success, and acknowledgment of this has never been more crucial. With staff retention a big issue, and much movement predicted for the 2022 job market, staff need to feel appreciated, motivated, and able to enjoy the festive period this year, where possible.”

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The pandemic has prompted many British workers to reassess their priorities, with almost half wanting a better work-life balance post lockdown.

Working overtime during the pandemic seemed to have been a key driver of the desire for a more balanced lifestyle sought by 45% of 1,000 respondents to a comparethemarket.com survey carried out in March.

On average, the study found that Brits had worked 2.9 hours more than their contracted hours during lockdown, adding up to 150 extra hours over the past year.

Those aged 25-34 had worked the most overtime at 187 hours, followed by 18-24 year olds and 35-44 year olds, both at 182 hours.

This unpaid work had the biggest impact on those aged 18 to 24, with 56.9% of respondents in that age group saying it had helped them realise they wanted to fulfil their career aspirations after the lockdown had ended.

This same demographic was also most likely (55%) to have put together their first ‘bucket list’ during lockdown, with plans to ‘start living life to the full’ (44%) post-lockdown.

Across all age groups, more than a third (36%) of Brits started planning their bucket list during lockdown, with more than half (57%) claiming their motivation for doing so was due to an attitude that ‘life is too short’.

Topping the activities on bucket lists drawn up over the past year was travelling and seeing more of the world, with 59% of respondents listing this.

Making more time for family and friends came in second (44%) while 41% wanted to learn a new skill such as a new language or a musical instrument.

Other bucket list items that scored highly included buying a new home (36%), doing an adrenaline-seeking activity (35%) and having more ‘me time’ (32%).

A third or those surveyed were hoping to achieve their goal within the next five to 10 years, while 26% hoped to do so in the next one to five years.

Photo courtesy of Canva.com

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