{"id":538,"date":"2025-04-29T07:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T07:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metalroofingintallahassee.com\/?p=538"},"modified":"2025-05-02T15:21:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T15:21:26","slug":"1-in-5-business-owners-havent-taken-a-break-in-over-a-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metalroofingintallahassee.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/29\/1-in-5-business-owners-havent-taken-a-break-in-over-a-year\/","title":{"rendered":"1 in 5 business owners haven\u2019t taken a break in over a year"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we enter the warmer months, many employees may be looking forward to their summer holidays<\/a>. However, SME owners may feel less inclined to take time off.<\/p>\n

New research from Uswitch reports that 1 in 5 business owners have not taken a full week off in over a year. It\u2019s a worrying trend that places founders at a high risk of burnout.<\/p>\n

The report also shows that many entrepreneurs feel guilty when stepping back from work, suggesting it\u2019s becoming harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why aren\u2019t business owners taking time off?<\/h2>\n

Uswitch<\/a> surveyed 1,000 small business owners across the UK to explore the pressure entrepreneurs face when it comes to stepping away from their work.<\/p>\n

The results show that a staggering 70% of entrepreneurs feel guilty when taking time off <\/strong>from their businesses, even working throughout their annual leave<\/a>, if taking any at all.<\/p>\n

The inability to disconnect from work often stems from financial pressures or fears of missing out on opportunities while out of office.<\/p>\n

Also, admin overload means entrepreneurs feel they can\u2019t justify taking time off, with 1 in 4 spending between 11 and 15 hours a week on admin. Over a third are struggling to keep up with tasks such as chasing late payments and managing cash flow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Staff shortages are another reason why entrepreneurs feel unable to unplug. Solopreneurs may feel particularly stuck if they have nobody to carry their load while they are off.<\/p>\n

The cost of founder burnout<\/h2>\n

As work-life balance becomes a major talking point across UK workplaces, employees and employers are more aware than ever of the dangers of burnout.<\/p>\n

While awareness is growing, Uswitch\u2019s report indicates that business owners are still at a higher risk of burnout due to overworking. Overtime<\/a> has also become more prevalent due to hybrid working<\/a>, blurring boundaries between work and play.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one reason that workations<\/a>, where workers and bosses base themselves in a traditional holiday location to work from, are becoming the norm. That\u2019s despite proper rest breaks<\/a> being important for employees to recharge and avoid stress and burnout.<\/p>\n

While the Right to Switch Off was scrapped<\/a> from the government\u2019s Employment Rights Bill, many bosses still back it<\/a>. However, SME owners are still evidently finding it hard to switch off; perhaps worried about how taking holidays will affect their business\u2019 productivity.<\/p>\n

But burnout is not just risky for business owners\u2019 mental health. It also has long-term effects on the health of a business. Uswitch points to data from the Mental Health Foundation<\/a>, which found that \u201cstress-related absences cost UK businesses \u00a328 billion annually\u201d.<\/p>\n

How to take better breaks<\/h2>\n

As a business owner, it\u2019s essential to find time to rest. Uswitch offers some practical suggestions to help you take better breaks, including:<\/p>\n