One in five UK workers failing to take annual leave allowance due to workplace pressure

New research suggests millions of workers are failing to take the annual leave they are entitled to, and paying the price with rising stress and burnout. In the study of 6,000 UK employees, staff leave management platform Timetastic has revealed that more than one in five workers (21%) do not take their full annual leave allowance, despite overwhelming evidence that time off improves wellbeing and reduces stress.

According to the findings, published as part of The 2026 Annual Leave Report, nearly nine in ten respondents (89%) said that taking a holiday improves their mental health, yet more than one in nine (11%) admitted they feel pressure not to book time off, citing workload concerns and guilt as the main barriers. As a consequence, almost half (45%) said their mental health suffered, while 100% reported higher levels of work-related stress.

Despite ongoing conversations around wellbeing and work–life balance, only 18% of employees finished the year with no remaining allowance, and more than a quarter (26%) had over 15 days left unused  – the equivalent of two full working weeks of rest.

Age and seniority also played a role. Younger workers aged 18–24 were the most likely to take their full entitlement (82%), while older age groups were more inclined to leave days unused. Mid-level managers and supervisors reported the highest levels of pressure to skip holidays, with over a quarter (26%) saying they felt unable to fully step away. In contrast, just 1% of senior management reported feeling the same pressure.

Sarah Crammond at Timetastic, explains: “While senior leaders may have more control over their schedules, those entering the workforce today are navigating a culture where ‘always-on’ availability is often mistaken for commitment. It suggests that while younger workers value their wellbeing, they may still feel the weight of traditional work ethics that prioritise ‘grind’ over recovery.”

The research also highlights how deeply ingrained guilt around time off has become. 9% of employees said they feel guilty simply for taking their earned leave, while a further 42% said their decision to take time off is influenced by workload pressure, workplace culture or concerns about inconveniencing colleagues.

“Efficient annual leave isn’t just about ticking boxes,” Crammond added. “It’s about creating breathing room for your team. When managers have clear visibility of who is off and when, they can distribute workloads more fairly, ensuring that no one feels like their holiday is an inconvenience to the business.

“It’s vital for managers to remember that they can’t pour from an empty cup. When a leader is stressed and skipping breaks, that tension filters down, creating a culture where the rest of the team feels guilty for resting,” explains Crammond.

“To lead effectively, you have to reset. A rested manager makes better decisions, is more empathetic, and sets a healthy permission-based culture for everyone else.”