Indian professionals work harder on vacation than global peers

The findings were based on a survey of more than 26,000 executives worldwide by provider of flexible workplaces

Indian professionals are more hardworking than their peers globally with many of them dedicating at least one to three hours for work even during holidays, says a survey.

The findings, based on a survey of more than 26,000 executives worldwide by provider of flexible workplaces, Regus, revealed that about 49% of Indian professional spends more time on work, much higher than the global average of 41%.

As per the survey, the top reasons making professionals to work on vacations are the urge to check mails, the boredom of being so free on a holiday, obsession with files, clients and meetings and insecurity about jobs or the uneasiness of leaving behind the workstations.

Individually, 50% of Indian men surveyed prefer to work for around one-three hours every day even when on a holiday as compared to 38% women respondent in the country.

"The dedication men worldwide and especially in India are showing towards their jobs is admirable with a huge percentage of business professionals taking their work away with them," Regus Regional Vice President (South Asia) Madhusudan Thakur said.

"However, this can also be interpreted as an indication that they feel overstretched or insecure in their jobs and are unable to properly switch off. The effects of work place stress are well documented so it is important that workers carve out some personal time," he added.

The survey, conducted among 90 nations, said American professionals (56%) are the highest percentage of professionals who are willing to lose 1-3 hours each day during holidays followed by Japan (53%), India (49%), Australia (44%) and the UK (35%).

The survey showed that in the last year, many companies especially the multi-nationals have adopted the policies of flexible working, work from home options among others thereby giving stress free holidays to their employees.

"With growing competition, the companies, these days, are much more concerned about the well being of their staff not only to reduce the attrition rate but to provide best facilities, thereby making the best use of their employees," it added.