No room at the beach

After record-breaking temperatures for July, the weather experts have said forecasts for August will also be higher than normal.

But apparently that is not enough to tempt some workers away from their jobs, says advice firm Croner, who polled 2,200 people online about their summer holiday plans.

Fifty-one percent said they had booked a summer break, 23% intended to take a one or two week break and felt there would not be a problem with a late request, while 3% said they wanted a holiday but knew they might have left it too late.

Bottleneck

But a quarter were not taking any summer holiday at all.

They didn't give a reason, but Croner suggested that a bottleneck of staff wanting to take holidays at the same time could prevent all requests being granted.

It also suggested that some workers may have a misplaced feeling that the company could not possibly cope without them.

For some, summer equals more children and queues

Of course, those not holidaying in summer could wisely take a break at another time.

Transport and accommodation prices sky-rocket during summer, queues are longer, beaches more crowded, families with children in tow are everywhere. Why not stay put until the school holidays are over?

The Work Foundation's associate director David Coats is one who avoids the summer holidays.

"I never take a summer holidays because it's too expensive and there are loads of kids on holiday.

"I holiday at Easter, but before the Easter fairs, or in the autumn."

He said employers "ought to be encouraging staff to take their full entitlement", even if it is just to spend time at home, to relax and unwind.

Risky business

He dismissed the claim that a bottleneck of summer-leave applications would be an issue, saying management "usually plans" for such seasonal circumstances.

But Croner warned that there were "serious" implications for employers if their staff became overworked.

It said people failing to take holiday entitlement was "potentially placing their organisation at risk as overworking themselves into the ground could lead to much more serious health problems and, ironically, enforced time off work".

This view was echoed by the Federation of Small Businesses.

The other picnic option - working through your summer

"It is important for employees to take the time off they are entitled to. Everybody needs a break to relax and unwind," said spokesman Simon Briault.

"In the long run, it will be beneficial for the employee and the employer alike because it helps to reduce ill-health and absenteeism."

Union body the TUC also said workers should take all their holidays, especially as the statutory minimum is set to increase from October 2007, to 5.6 weeks.

General Secretary Brendan Barber: "Holidays are important for our health, our family life and for catching up with our friends.

"But we also need to make sure that workers can take all of their holiday entitlements."