According to research, millennials begin to “switch-off” from work on average around the 16th day of December.
A survey found that 46,1 percent of millennials divert attention away from work-related tasks during working hours. This makes them twice as likely to delay tasks to the New Year as Gen Z employees.
Gen Z employees also show signs of fatigue before the holidays, despite switching off a little later on December 17. Gen Z workers report feeling burnt out in half of cases, and 45.1% admit to avoiding complex or significant tasks during the weeks before Christmas.
The Generational Differences of Workplace Engagement
The Gen X workforce, between 45 and 54, shows a slightly higher engagement level, with the average date of their switch-off falling on December 18. Over a third of Gen X workers (33.9%) avoid more difficult or demanding tasks in this time period. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, show the highest level of commitment to their jobs, with just 25,3 percent of those over 55 years old avoiding major work before the holiday break.
Burnout may be a factor in the higher rates of early disengagement among younger employees.
Steve Harlow said that while the festive season can be a time to celebrate, it is important for businesses to maintain productivity levels up until Christmas to remain competitive and profitable. Many workers will start to slow down before this date. This can make it difficult for businesses to generate new business leads. The result is a sales slump, known as the “December dip” in the industry.
In addition, the survey found that regional differences exist in terms of when employees begin to wind down before Christmas. The South West of England leads the UK in switching off employees as early as December 15th. Employees from Central, South East and Northern England as well as Northern Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland typically disengage between 16th and 17th December. Scotland, on the other hand, has been identified by the study as the region with the highest level of productivity, with workers there staying engaged until, on average, the 18th day of December.
