Nearly a quarter of self-confessed workaholics do not take a single paid day's holiday each year, a new survey has found.

Nearly a quarter of self-confessed workaholics (22%) do not take a single paid day's holiday each year, a new survey has found.

And over one in ten "long hours workers" do not take a single paid day's holiday each year. One in five long hours workers (22%) take 10 days holiday or less.

"Long hours workers" are defined as employees who do not describe themselves as workaholic but who work more than 48 hours per week.

The nationwide survey was commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) for a report titled "Married to the job?".

The report includes a follow-up survey of 486 people originally questioned in July 1998 and a nationally representative survey of UK workers, which looked at how `workaholics' and other people who work long hours were perceived in the workplace.

CIPD employee relations adviser Mike Emmott said working excessively long hours could put a strain on relationships with partners, children and friends. However, he said long-suffering spouses and cohabiting partners tended to consider it a price worth paying if it guaranteed a decent standard of living.

"What should also not be overlooked is that excessive hours can have a negative effect on job performance and cause costly or reputation-damaging mistakes.

"Employers need therefore to ensure that they do everything in their power to improve productivity through efficiency improvements rather than by overloading their staff," Emmott said.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
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