Employees in Europe and the U.S. Frequently Check Work Email While on Vacation

A ZeroBounce survey of 1,157 employees across Europe and the United States found that 71 % regularly check work email during their vacation. Nearly half (48 %) do so out of fear of missing something important, a third worry about falling behind, and one in five fear appearing unreliable to colleagues.

The respondents cited habits, curiosity, and the desire to return to a cleared inbox as additional motives. The study highlights that clear task hand‑over, defined priorities and expectations, and the use of auto‑responses can help workers truly disconnect. Managers are encouraged to set explicit guidelines on when email checks are necessary and allow employees to schedule limited periods for urgent communications.