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Hannah Marsh/John Birdsall/Press Association Images

Do you take all your holiday leave?

Survey claims that over half of respondents didn’t take all their annual leave days because they were too busy or under too much pressure at work.

A SURVEY CARRIED out by a travel website has concluded that 62 per cent of Irish workers do not take all their allotted holiday allowance.
Hotels.com surveyed 180 people between 8 and 16 December and of these respondents, over half had at least two to three unusued annual leave days in a year. Over half of those who said they didn’t use up all their holiday days said they felt “resentful” of that fact.

The reasons cited for not taking all holidays was being too busy at work (38 per cent); just not getting round to it (28 per cent); accidentally being left with too many days as a result of trying to save them up (19 per cent); and 12 per cent said they were afraid to take all their holidays because of pressure at work.

Not all companies allow employees to “carry over” unused holiday days to the following year – 41 per cent of those surveyed in this research said they could, but one in four said they definitely couldn’t, leaving those days unused for good.

Did you take all the holiday days allotted to you this year?


Poll Results:

No (793)
Yes (668)
I am self-employed (111)
I am unemployed (79)

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18 Comments
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Jan 1st 2012, 2:15 PM

    Why wouldn’t you take all your holiday leave?
    that’s just a bit weird.

    83
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    Mute Joe McDermott
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    Jan 1st 2012, 3:02 PM

    Get paid for them instead! Big juicy pay cheque for the christmas.

    29
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    Mute Paul Mallon
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    Jan 1st 2012, 4:20 PM

    Ah right, that makes sense, never had a job that allowed that.

    38
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    Mute Conor Oneill
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    Jan 1st 2012, 2:37 PM

    I took all mine as I am not insane

    66
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    Mute Aranthos Faroth
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    Jan 1st 2012, 2:31 PM

    Yes, I take all my annual leave.

    We all get abused enough with our low wages (Maybe not all on that part) and our heavy workloads.
    I think it’s complete madness to take any less than what you are given to take.

    60
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    Mute Mark Browne
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    Jan 1st 2012, 2:19 PM

    Some people like me hold onto hours you are allowed carry over. Handy to have for those unexpected things come up.

    43
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    Mute glamviva
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    Jan 1st 2012, 2:38 PM

    I didn’t take all my holidays for a few reasons.
    1: I am the only person doing my job and I could afford to take many during the year.
    2: I want to do a good job so I can hold on to it. So I take my hols at quieter times in the year for me. Hiring and firing happens to easy in some companies.
    3: don’t get many holidays so spend the year holding on for as long as I can.

    None of the above are ideal and I hope to change this in 2012.

    33
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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 1st 2012, 4:45 PM

    took all my leave, and don’t work a minute more than I’m contracted to for the lousy pay I’m earning vis a vis my quals and exp

    28
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    Mute Peter Carroll
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    Jan 1st 2012, 7:56 PM

    Maybe, just maybe, that explains why you are paid crap wages.

    36
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    Mute John Irwin
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    Jan 1st 2012, 7:50 PM

    Not taking all your leave entitlement, just like giving unpaid overtime is devaluing your average hourly rate, and giving you employer the impression that you’re a clown who can be pushed around!

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    Mute Brian Daly
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    Jan 1st 2012, 9:45 PM

    Mention that in your next interview.

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    Mute John Irwin
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    Jan 1st 2012, 11:42 PM

    So that’s where I’ve been going wrong!

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    Mute Aaron
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    Jan 1st 2012, 3:59 PM

    carried over 8 days from 2011 into 2012 :)

    19
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    Mute John Irwin
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    Jan 1st 2012, 11:48 PM

    But seriously- a contract of employment is just that- a contract. If either party wants to vary it, it should cost them!

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    Mute Steph Duffy
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    Jan 1st 2012, 6:59 PM

    Have been on mat leave for most of this year but I would normally take all of my annual leave. Having said that I probably work up about the same amount of time in unpaid overtime and dealing with clients out of hours so the time off is badly needed & thoroughly enjoyed.

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    Mute Steph Duffy
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    Jan 1st 2012, 7:00 PM

    Should have said most of last year!

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    Mute Galway
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    Jan 2nd 2012, 11:11 AM

    I always take my full leave. We couldn’t carry over days this year. I had 11 days left to take at the start of December, so my Christmas holidays started on 9th December. It was a use them or lose them scenario, so I used them :)

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    Mute Aine
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    Jan 2nd 2012, 10:31 PM

    Personally for me I’m not sure I’ll ever regain the hours owed let alone take holidays!! I’ve taken said/supposed leave but reality is unless I psychically leave this country (which I can’t afford to do!) I will be either be on the phone, replying to e-mails or forced to actually to work so there should be a poll there for how often people are interrupted on there supposed holidays? The reality for me is that though on paper I’ve ”taken my holidays” but its far from the actual truth

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