MOST employees admit to working during their annual leave and nearly a third fail to take their full holiday entitlement, according to research by the Chartered Management Institute.

The Chartered Management Institute questioned 6,000 managers and found that the number of people with more than five weeks holiday entitlement continues to grow (from 56 per cent in 2003 to 66 per cent, this year).

But in the South East, managers are fearful about the impact of their absence and 47 per cent contact their organisation by choice due to work overload. A majority (63 per cent) will also respond to requests from their employer, whilst on holiday.

The survey also shows that managers put in extra hours to make up for the time they lose by going on holiday. For a typical one-week break, the UK’s management community works an additional 36 million additional hours, beyond their contractual requirements.

Even when on holiday, 47 per cent regularly check work emails and 46 per cent monitor voicemail. In an effort to keep in touch with colleagues, 58 per cent take away their work mobile phones, 20 per cent take their laptops and 17 per cent regularly visit internet cafes.

Jo Causon, director of corporate marketing and public affairs at the Chartered Management Institute, said: "It’s long been accepted that the pressure to perform has led to Britain becoming a nation of workaholics.

"However, the hours people put in at work do not always guarantee optimal results, because quantity is not the same as quality. Employers are certainly beginning to recognise this and are encouraging staff to take a proper break, but the onus must now be on managers to follow this lead."