Finnish workers struggle to recover after holidays, survey finds

A survey conducted in May 2026 by human‑resources firm SD Worx involving about 1,000 Finnish adults reveals that one‑third of workers do not recover well during their annual leave. Overall, 32 % report insufficient recovery, with the problem most acute among 25‑ to 44‑year‑olds, where 42 % feel their vacation leaves them still fatigued. Women are more affected than men—36 % of female respondents say the holiday only partly or not at all restores them, compared with about 26 % of men. Young adults aged 18‑24 also struggle to disconnect from work, with 69 % finding it hard to switch off and only 42 % able to fully relax.

Respondents say they would like significantly longer vacations, averaging 36.7 paid days per year versus the current 26.6, and many feel supervisors do not encourage adequate holiday taking. Mikko Uotila, SD Worx’s CEO for Finland and Estonia, warned that a single holiday cannot fix imbalances between work and leisure, and that poor recovery can lead to errors, sick leave, and higher staff turnover.