Some workers are finding it difficult to unwind when taking time off from the office, according to CareerBuilder.com's annual vacation survey. Although an improvement from 33 percent in 2005, 27 percent of workers still say they plan to work while on vacation this year. Sixteen percent of workers report feeling guilty about missing work while on vacation and seven percent actually fear that time off could lead to unemployment. CareerBuilder.com's "Vacation 2006" survey was completed in March and included more than 2,500 workers.

More than half of workers say they work under a great deal of stress, and 77 percent say they feel burned out on the job. While 84 percent of workers are planning to take a vacation this year, they might not be taking enough time to recharge. Thirty-two percent of workers are taking a vacation of five days or less while one-in-ten are limiting themselves to weekend getaways.

To enjoy uninterrupted time off, some workers have elected to lie about accessibility at their vacation destinations. Eleven percent of workers blamed bad wireless connections and other technology issues to avoid work while away from the office. Men were slightly more apt to lie about finding Internet access or cell phone signals to avoid being contacted by their employers at 13 percent, compared to 10 percent of women.

The survey also shows men are more likely to work while on vacation. Thirty-three percent of men expect to work on projects or check in with the office while on vacation, compared to 25 percent of women.

"Work can be demanding, but taking it all with you just brings the stress to a new location," said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.com. "Cell phones, pagers and other electronic devices can create an e-leash of sorts. Planning ahead, managing expectations and setting boundaries with your co-workers are key to making sure you get the break you need."

To enjoy a stress-free and work-free vacation, Haefner recommends the following tips:

  --  Give 'em the 411.  If you, your significant other and your travel
      agent are the only ones who know about your plans, you're heading into
      trouble.  Give early notice for the dates you plan to take off to make
      sure your schedules run smoothly.
  --  Think big.  If you have a big project and a great vacation planned for
      the same week, you can expect one of the two to give.  Schedule the
      dates before and after the big stuff to lighten your load and enjoy
      your time off.
  --  Cross-train.  You may feel you are irreplaceable for the work ahead,
      but cross-training a co-worker to share your task enables you to take
      time off and creates a network.  Next time a co-worker needs to take a
      vacation, you can return the favor.
  --  "Sorry, I missed your call ... " Giving an alternative contact via
      voicemail or an automated email response lets people know you'll be
      out and where they can get immediate assistance, so you don't
      experience inbox overload when you return.
  --  Set limits.  Checking in a couple of times during a week off is one
      thing, but if your job requires you to be a slave to your cell, you
      may want to talk it out with your boss before you go to establish
      boundaries.
  --  What if you're the boss?  If you're working for yourself, make sure
      you anticipate your busy seasons by reviewing your previous sales and
      current situation.  Save vacation time for slower periods and make
      sure to notify customers in advance.


  Survey Methodology

The new CareerBuilder.com survey, "Vacation 2006," was conducted from February 21 to March 6, 2006. Methodology used to collect survey responses totaling more than 2,500 workers for this study involved selecting a random sample of comScore Networks panel members. These Web Panel members were approached via an e-mail invitation, which asked them to participate in a short online survey. The results of this survey are statistically accurate to within +/- 1.96 percentage points (19 times out of 20).

About CareerBuilder.com

CareerBuilder.com is the nation's largest online job site with more than 20 million unique visitors and over 1 million jobs. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. , Tribune Company , and Knight Ridder, Inc. , the company offers a vast online and print network to help job seekers connect with employers. CareerBuilder.com powers the career centers for more than 800 partners that reach national, local, industry and niche audiences. These include more than 170 newspapers and leading portals such as America Online and MSN. More than 250,000 employers take advantage of CareerBuilder.com's easy job postings, 18 million-plus resumes, Diversity Channel and more. Millions of job seekers visit the site every month to search for opportunities by industry, location, company and job type, sign up for automatic email job alerts, and get advice on job hunting and career management. For more information about CareerBuilder.com products and services, visit http://www.careerbuilder.com/ .

  Media Contact:
  Jennifer Sullivan
  773-527-1164
  Jennifer.Sullivan@careerbuilder.com

SOURCE: CareerBuilder.com