Half of Office Workers Report Being Contacted for Work During Paid Time Off

A civic group survey revealed that 1 in 2 office workers have experienced being contacted by work and performing tasks or returning to the office while on vacation.

Workplace Gapjil 119 announced the results of a survey conducted by the polling agency Global Research from June 1 to 9, targeting 1,000 office workers aged 19 and older nationwide, which showed that 48.8 percent of respondents experienced receiving work-related contacts during their vacation.

Respondents who immediately handled work tasks from home or a café after receiving such contacts accounted to 37.7 percent, while those who reported to the office or returned to the work site to handle tasks stood at 15.8 percent.

By respondent characteristics, the proportion of those who received work contacts during vacation was higher among those with higher wage levels, higher job positions, and longer employment periods.

One office worker reported to Workplace Gapjil 119 that a team leader constantly pressured them to upload work documents via messenger during vacation, adding that they ended up working during their paid leave and replying to messenger messages.

Another office worker complained that as the company drastically reduced its workforce, it not only forced work pressures after leaving the office but also mandated work contacts and meeting attendance during vacations.

Respondents who stated they received work contacts during vacation but informed others they were on leave and delayed handling the work stood at just 15.8 percent.

Amendments to the Labor Standards Act aimed at banning work-related contacts outside of working hours were proposed in July and September 2024, but they remain pending in the National Assembly.

Jeong Hee-seong, a labor attorney at Workplace Gapjil 119, pointed out that contacting workers for work outside of working hours, such as during vacations or after leaving the office, is an act of workplace abuse that infringes upon workers' right to rest and forces unpaid labor.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.