Millions of office workers fail to all their annual leave because of mounting workloads and a fear that their bosses would not approve it.
A poll of 2,000 employees revealed that almost a third (28 per cent) leave FIVE DAYS unclaimed out of the average 28-day holiday entitlement.
One in 10 office workers claim they have no one to hand work over to and end up staying to do it themselves.
Ten per cent also describe a holiday as 'pointless' as they end up working through it remotely anyway.
A third of respondents even admit to having F.O.A.L – a 'fear of annual leave'.
Chris Logan, managing director at Crystal Ski Holidays, said: "Not every employer is happy to sign off holiday requests.
"And not all staff feel comfortable booking leave, fearing they won't be able to switch off from work anyway.
"The findings suggest more than three million office workers aren't using all the leave they are entitled to.
"This means huge numbers of adults who are probably stressed, over-worked and over-tired by the end of the year.
"Of those that do take leave, many like to use it for short breaks, which could take away some of the stressed incurred by longer holidays, and reduce the fear of annual leave."
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Researchers for Crystal Ski Holidays hit the high street to see how the general public view booking annual leave.
Call centre worker Lindo, 29, from East London, said: "I am a workaholic. I get scared using any holiday as I always put work first.
"It sometimes annoys my friends, but work is something I'm passionate about. I live to work, rather than work to live. I definitely have a fear of annual leave."
Actor Oliver Longstaff, 28, from Marlow, said: "I prefer to take shorter breaks as I don't want to miss out on work.
"Seems silly, but if something came up I'd want to be around for that.
"If I'm on a long holiday then I can't be available for what might come up. I can't remember my last long holiday."
The study also found the average worker isn't comfortable booking any more than eight days holiday in one go – with one fifth preferring to book four days or less.
And one quarter of employers claim to feel happier using annual leave for shorter breaks.
The majority of those polled do manage to enjoy their time off when they take it, but just under one in 20 can't enjoy a holiday because of work stress.
This is because they spend the whole time thinking about work (30 per cent), feeling guilty about being off (17 per cent) or check their emails anyway (18 per cent).
A third are hesitant to request annual leave because they worry what their boss will think, and the same amount believe a holiday isn't worth the stress of compiling a mega-handover.
Another one in five dilly-dally over putting in a holiday form because their colleagues rarely take any and they don't want to appear less hardworking.
A quarter even believe taking their vacation entitlement would affect their chances of a promotion or pay rise – and 13 per cent 'can't afford' to go on holiday as it is.
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According to the OnePoll research, a tenth of working adults have been hauled into the boss's office for a telling off after taking a holiday.
The same amount lost potential business, and more than a third came back to a huge mountain of work that had been left for them to deal with.
Just over 40 per cent would even be happy to forego annual leave – and take extra pay instead.
However, two thirds believe failing to take regular holidays can lead to burnout, and 47 per cent think there is more chance of employees falling ill if they don't take time off.
A further 62 per cent think the most important part of taking annual leave, however, is simply to spend more quality time with friends and family.
Chris Logan, for Crystal Ski Holidays, added: "Holidays are vital to our wellbeing for many reasons.
"Think about how you feel when it's been a long time since you had one – and in fact, sometimes the longer you go without, the harder it is to take one.
"If you get yourself in a mind-set of always putting work first, then when you do take time off, you may struggle with it.
"Taking regular short breaks can do people the world of good, and for many embarking on all-consuming activity holidays can be just the ticket to completely switch off from the day-to-day grind."
Top 10 reasons Brits didn't take all their annual leave in 2019:
1. I had too much work to do
2. It wasn't worth the hassle of coming back to a mountain of work
3. I couldn't afford to go on holiday
4. I had no one I could hand my work too
5. I worry too much about what will happen while I'm away
6. It was pointless as I'd only have worked on my annual leave anyway
7. I had no one to go away with / spend it with
8. I didn't think the boss would approve
9. I love work and don't desire time off
10. I didn't feel I could abandon my clients / customers
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