One in five Irish workers left a week of unused leave last year

A worker survey has found that the number of unused leave days is increasing

Almost half of workers had unused leave days.

One in five adult Irish workers failed to use a week's worth of annual leave last year while (42%) did not make full use of their holiday entitlements.

A worker survey carried out by FRS Recruitment found 15% of people said they did not take four days, 17% had three days which went unused, 19% did not use two days of leave, and 3% had one day’s holiday remaining.

According to its Annual Leave Report, almost one in two workers (48%) said they used their annual leave for domestic travel last year, the most common reason cited. 46% used it for foreign travel, 15% for family reasons, 9% for personal reasons and 4% due to illness.

FRS said the number of unused leave days is increasing. 

"After salaries, holidays and annual leave entitlements are arguably one of the main points of negotiation between employees and employers," FRS General Manager Lynne McCormack said. 

"Yet despite their importance, an increasing number of these sought-after days of leave are going unused by employees."

Of even greater note is the number of holidays that people are not taking.

“Not taking their annual leave may suit some people, perhaps they receive payment in lieu or wish to carry over their leave to the following year. 

"However, more than three out of 10 people say they lose any days which go unused."

The survey of 1,886 workers also found that six in 10 people (58%) say they would be in favour of their employer introducing unlimited annual leave, while a majority of people (56%) would also be in favour of a four-day working week, even if it impacted on their salary.

“Not taking their annual leave may suit some people, perhaps they receive payment in lieu or wish to carry over their leave to the following year. 

"However, more than three out of 10 people say they lose any days which go unused.

"A majority of people would also be interested in a four-day work week, even if it had an impact on their salaries," Ms McCormack said.

"These findings are particularly intriguing in the context of the high percentage of people who didn’t use their annual leave last year."