21 July 2026 — More than half (55%) of U.K. employees now work outside their normal hours every day, according to new research from MyPerfectCV®, U.K.’s leading CV platform, revealing how Britain’s always-on work culture has become embedded in daily working life. Overall, 93% report working after hours at least occasionally, while 91% say they have worked while sick instead of taking time off.
Despite 88% of employees saying their workplace respects their right to disconnect, the Always-On Workforce Report 2026 suggests the reality is very different. Heavy workloads and perceived management expectations continue to keep many employees connected after hours, during annual leave, and even when they’re unwell.
“Being ‘always on’ isn’t defined by one behavior – it’s the accumulation of small decisions to stay connected,” said Jasmine Escalera, career expert at MyPerfectCV. “Whether it’s checking emails on holiday, responding after hours, or working through illness, the lines between work and personal time have become increasingly blurred for many U.K. employees.”
Key Findings
- 92% of U.K. workers struggle to mentally switch off during their time off, well above the 78% European average.
- 93% of U.K. workers work outside normal hours, including 55% who do so every day.
- 91% of U.K. workers have worked while sick, with one in three doing so frequently.
- 88% feel guilty or anxious requesting leave.
- Heavy workloads (50%) and management expectations (44%) are the biggest drivers of the U.K.’s always-on culture.
Most Employees Continue Working Outside Normal Hours
The survey found that after-hours work has become a regular part of working life for many employees.
When asked how frequently they check work emails, respond to messages, or perform work tasks outside working hours:
- 55% said every day
- 27% said a few times a week
- 11% said a few times a month
- 6% said rarely
- 1% said never
Overall, 93% report working outside normal hours at least occasionally, while 82% do so at least a few times each week.
Working While Sick Is Common
When asked whether they have ever worked while feeling ill instead of taking a sick day:
- 34% said yes, frequently
- 57% said yes, occasionally
- 9% said no
In total, 91% report working while sick at least occasionally, including one-third who say they do so frequently.
Almost Half Remain Connected During Time Off
The survey also found that many employees remain connected to work while taking annual leave. When asked whether they completely disconnect while on annual leave:
- 53% said yes, absolutely
- 35% said they mostly disconnect but still check emails occasionally
- 11% said they regularly check emails or messages
- 1% said they continue doing work or taking calls
Overall, 47% report checking work in some capacity during annual leave, although most describe it as occasional email monitoring rather than active work.
9 in 10 Struggle to Mentally Disconnect
When asked how often they find it difficult to disconnect from work mentally during their time off:
- 34% said always
- 26% said often
- 32% said sometimes
- 7% said rarely
- 1% said never
92% say they struggle to mentally disconnect from work at least sometimes, including 60% who say it happens often or always.
Most Experience Guilt When Requesting Time Off
Taking time off remains a source of stress for many employees. When asked how often they feel guilt or anxiety when officially requesting time off:
- 31% said always
- 25% said often
- 32% said sometimes
- 7% said rarely
- 5% said never
Overall, 88% experience guilt or anxiety when requesting leave at least sometimes.
What Prevents Employees From Disconnecting
U.K. employees were asked to identify the biggest barriers preventing them from fully disconnecting after work or during time off. The most common responses were:
Operational
- Heavy workload (50%)
- Lack of coverage (25%)
Culture
- Management expectations (44%)
- Fear of being replaceable (12%)
- Guilt (4%)
Personal
- FOMO (24%)
- Work apps (17%)
- Personal boundary setting (5%)
Only 2% report having no difficulty disconnecting from work.
U.K. vs. Europe
Compared with employees across Europe, British employees consistently report higher levels of after-hours work, guilt around taking leave, and working while sick.
The U.K. stands out as the most “always-on” demographic in several key areas:
- Presenteeism: While 85% of European workers report working while sick, that number jumps to 91% in the U.K.
- Daily After-Hours Work: Only 29% of European workers perform work tasks outside of hours every day. In the U.K., that figure nearly doubles to 55%.
- Guilt Over Taking Leave: 53% of European workers experience guilt or anxiety when requesting time off. In the U.K., this affects 88% of employees.
- Workload Pressures: Across Europe, lack of coverage (30%) was the top barrier to disconnecting, with heavy workloads sitting at 27%. In the U.K., a heavy workload is the dominant barrier, cited by exactly half (50%) of all respondents, followed closely by management expectations (44% in the U.K. vs. 28% in Europe).
The findings suggest Britain’s always-on culture is being driven less by formal workplace policies than by workload, workplace expectations, and employee behavior, creating a disconnect between the right to disconnect and the reality of modern work.
To view the full report, visit https://www.myperfectcv.co.uk/blog/always-on-workforce-report or contact Olga Knapinska, Senior Outreach Marketing Specialist, at [email protected].
Methodology
The findings in this report are based on a June 2026 survey of 1,500 employed professionals, comprising 500 respondents from the U.K. and 1,000 across Spain, Italy, France, and Germany. Participants answered a combination of single- and multiple-choice questions exploring their experiences with work-life balance, annual leave utilization, the right to disconnect, and workplace productivity monitoring.
About MyPerfectCV
MyPerfectCV CV maker provides tools and guidance to help job seekers create a CV and present their professional experience clearly. The platform includes a CV builder and cover letter builder with pre-written templates, CV examples, and step-by-step guidance designed to simplify the process of writing a job application online. Since 2013, MyPerfectCV has provided career solutions by explaining how to write a CV, seek high-paying jobs in the U.K., and ace popular job interview questions. Insights and employment-related research from the MyPerfectCV team have been featured in media outlets including BBC, The Telegraph, The Times, City A.M., and Startups. Follow MyPerfectCV as a preferred source in Google to receive more workforce trends, career insights, and labor market research in your personalized search experience
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