UAE: Employees checking emails on annual leave sign of 'disconnection anxiety', warn experts

Khaleej Times

6 days ago

Is your laptop an essential part of your holiday luggage? Do you impulsively open messages on work groups while trying to chill on vacation? You are not alone.
A recent study found that more than half the professionals in the UAE admit they check work emails during annual leave, while nearly two-thirds say they feel anxious when returning to the office after a break. Mental health experts say this is a form of 'disconnection anxiety,' where employees struggle to fully switch off from work even when they're officially on holiday.
For Aisha Hammadi, who works in public relations, switching off during a break is rarely possible. 'I always check my emails. Sometimes I even jump on calls if I see it's necessary,' she said. 'If a client messages or calls, I respond immediately.'
She admits this constant availability affects her ability to truly unwind. 'It disrupts the flow of rest. Everything feels urgent now. Maybe because people have gotten used to treating everything as urgent.'
According to Dr Hanan Mahmoud Kandil, specialist psychiatrist at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, this behaviour is increasingly common. 'Many professionals find it difficult to fully unplug from work during annual leave due to a mix of cultural, technological, and psychological factors,' she said. 'In today's always-connected world, the line between work and personal time has blurred.'
Unspoken expectation
She said that the root cause is deeper than just a bad habit. 'There's often an unspoken expectation from employers, clients, or even ourselves to stay available, to be responsive, or to not fall behind,' she said. For some, stepping away from work can even trigger anxiety about what might be missed or about returning to a backlog of tasks.
In a poll conducted by Khaleej Times on Instagram, over 1,600 respondents said they never feel fully recharged after a holiday, with many admitting they continue to stay partially connected to work. Around 800 said they try to switch off but remain available for emergencies, while only a small portion said they fully disconnect and return refreshed. The results reflect the growing difficulty employees face in drawing a clear line between rest and responsiveness.
Mohamed Hassan, on the other hand, takes the opposite approach.
'When I'm working, I give it my 100 per cent. I rarely take days off, so when I'm on vacation, I completely disconnect. I owe it to myself,' he said.
He believes it's about training others to respect your time. 'Set boundaries. Don't reply on weekends. Don't be overly attentive after hours. People start to learn you're not reachable when you're off, and they adapt.'
The consequences are more serious than many assume. 'Constant connectivity can lead to mental fatigue and emotional burnout. Without real downtime, the brain doesn't get the recovery time it needs, and this can result in increased stress,' she stressed. Over time, this eventually impacts productivity and decision-making.
Dr Hanan recommends preparing for leave just like you prepare for work.
'Setting clear boundaries ahead of time, such as informing teams of your unavailability, turning off notifications, and not checking emails, is key.'
She also recommends creating a ritual to mark the start of a break, like getting ready mentally and physically to fully switch off.
The expert added that managers play a big role in this shift and should encourage their team members to fully step away. 'Rest isn't a luxury, it's a necessity for long-term well-being and performance,' she concluded.