Office workers are expected to pick up the slack when colleagues take their summer holiday, according to new research.

Spring Personnel found that more than three-quarters (77%) of organisations rely on office workers to oversee other colleagues’ roles while they are on annual leave.

In turn, 33% of respondents admitted seeing a reduction in office productivity during this period.

“It is surprising that only 23% of companies use temporary staff to cover departmental holiday leave,” said John Simmonds, managing director of Spring Personnel.

“In a time when we strive for a better work/life balance, it is unnecessary to put this type of added pressure on a department or individual.”

Workers also don’t feel inclined to check on work in their absence, according to a study commissioned by global recruitment and human resources consultancy Hudson.

The study found that only one in six (16%) workers will contact their workplace while on holiday this summer.

But workers shouldn’t feel guilty if they don’t call in. “Whatever your profession and whatever your role or level of responsibility within a company, holidays are essential to recharge your batteries and regain some perspective,” said Geraldine Hetherington, chief operating officer of Hudson UK.

“Employers should make it clear to their employees that they don’t expect them to connect with the office while they are on holiday, and colleagues should be prepared to take on each other’s workload so that everyone gets the proper break they deserve.”

However, a Teletext Holidays survey found that a quarter of adults can’t disconnect entirely from work during their time off.

The holiday firm recommends that employees leave their work mobile phones at home during their breaks.

“Holidays are precious and should be a chance to get away from it all - and that includes work,” said Teletext Holidays managing director Nishma Patel. “However ... holidaymakers are finding it increasingly hard to achieve this, because work either looms large or is on the phone.”