Four in ten marketing professionals failed to take all their annual leave last year, a study by Robert Walters has revealed.
One in ten reported using no more than half the total holiday they were entitled.
The research suggests that leave is commonly left untaken because of ‘short deadlines’ or ‘growing workloads’, meaning that some employers are forced to turn down holiday requests.
Some respondents said they feared ‘falling behind on their work’, while others claimed they ‘could not afford to accommodate a holiday’.
The news comes amid the growing risk posed by talent shortages. The number of marketing vacancies has risen by 18 per cent since November 2013, according to Robert Walters previously published Jobs Index.
Tim Gilbert, director of marketing recruitment at Robert Walters, commented: “Businesses are increasingly aware of the impressive returns on investment that come from a well-functioning marketing team. Engaging with customers across a wide range of channels has taken on a new level of importance, so it’s vital you have the skills on board to take full advantage.
“In addition to minimising the risks posed by burnout and low morale, encouraging staff to take all their annual leave enhances your company’s reputation as an attractive place to work. With the race for talent picking up, it’s considerations like these that could make all the difference to recruiting top talent.”
