A recent survey reveals that a significant portion of Danes work during their vacations, raising concerns about employee well-being and job satisfaction. The study, conducted by YouGov on behalf of Spies, found that 51% of respondents have worked while on vacation, with nearly one in five reporting they often have to bring work along.

The trend is particularly pronounced in the capital region, where 64% of those surveyed admitted to working despite being on holiday. Salaried employees, in addition to the self-employed, are among those most likely to work during their time off, with 69% reporting they do so.

Trade unions like Djøf and Lederne have voiced criticism of this trend, emphasizing the importance of rest and clear guidelines regarding employee availability during vacations. Djøf highlights that many employees feel pressured to be available even when on vacation, leading to overload and decreased well-being. Their own survey found that one in five members struggle to set boundaries between work and vacation, and that job satisfaction is lower among those who remain available.

Sara Vergo, chairwoman of Djøf, stresses the need for employees to take time off and for employers to establish clear expectations regarding availability. She points out that almost 40% of Djøf’s members believe their bosses expect them to be available and ready to work even during vacations.

Lederne’s survey confirms that a majority of managers also work while on vacation. Kim Melander Jensen, political head of working environment and working life at Lederne, emphasizes the importance of rest and suggests that frameworks should be agreed upon for how employees should be available if they must work during vacation.

Employers’ organizations like Dansk Erhverv and Dansk Industri acknowledge the high numbers of employees working on vacation and emphasize the importance of clear agreements and communication. Pernille Taarup, head of HR and Leadership at Dansk Erhverv, states that employees should feel empowered to decline work requests if there is no explicit expectation from leadership. Dansk Industri believes that clear agreements must be in place if employees are expected to be available during their time off.