Time off tax: report finds workers put in extra hours to make up for vacation

By Mike Lloyd

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’re taking time away from work through the holidays, chances are you’re paying for it with a “time off tax.”

A report from ADP Canada finds employees are putting in a lot of hours before and after their vacation to make up for their time away.

“We’re talking an additional 16 hours of work before vacation and an average of 17 hours when they return. That’s a good 33, 34 hours that they have to put in,” says ADP’s Hendrick Steenkamp, adding that’s ten hours more than last year.

“It’s the fourth year in a row that we’ve done this and [I’m] surprised to see that there are folks who have to put in so much more time before they can take vacation, and even when they come back they have to put in extra hours to catch up,” he says.

“Are managers making sure that when employees take the time off that they have sufficient back-up?” Steenkamp asks. He says it’s the company’s responsibility to make sure that employees aren’t working too hard.

“You’re on vacation, I want you to take a break, I want you to be relaxing, we’ve got somebody covering you in the office so don’t worry about what’s happening in the office, it will be taken care of. I think those are the conversations that need to happen more often.”

The study found fewer Canadians are disconnecting from work while on vacation, increasing concerns about burnout and inadequate work-life balance.

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