Leave, between legal law and a postponed dream. Holiday, an increasingly inaccessible option

For a large part of the Romanian employees, the leave is still perceived as an essential method of restoring energy and increasing productivity. However, the data show that the holiday does not always equate with a complete disconnection of professional responsibilities.

28% of Romanian employees fail to break up completely, nor on leave

According to a market study, only 28% of employees say they manage to completely break the office during leave, while almost half (47%) remain available for emergencies.

Although most employees have between 21 and 25 free days (60% of respondents), very few manage to take their free time available: until August 1, 2025 only 8% have fully exhausted their holidays. At the same time, almost 1 in 5 employees (20%) did not use its leave in the first 7 months of the year-a clear indication that the break remains, for many, a postponed option.

How to organize their Romanians holidays

Although the 5-10-day holidays remain a frequent choice for 37% of employees, more and more prefer to alternate the rhythm, shows rain analysis, specifying that 39% combine short breaks with longer stays, in an attempt to manage their energy over the year.

For a real disconnection, almost half (45%) say they need at least 6–10 days, and 29% over 10 days.

The barriers that keep Romanians connected to the job even on vacation

The leave is often conditioned by the organizational culture. If for 44% it is very easy to ask for a day off, almost half (47%) recognizes that it hesitates, and 9% say it is difficult or almost impossible.

Among the main obstacles that prevent the employees from taking their leave of rest are the large volume of work and the lack of a replacement, mentioned by 38% of the respondents. For another 18%, the pressure of being always available plays an important role, and 15% say they have a habit of putting work in the first place, even when they had the opportunity to rest.

“The results show that the need for employees to recharge their batteries during the leave contravenes the continuous pressures from the workplace. The organizational culture plays a critical role: in the companies where managers give an example in this regard and the holidays are encouraged, people return from more motivated and involved leave.”said Gabor Olajos, Country Managing Director Pluxee Romania and Bulgaria.

When returning from leave, 23% of employees say that they always return more motivated, while 9% declare that they feel anxiety related to unresolved tasks.

With only 1 in 5 employees who benefit from financial support for internal holidays, companies have a clear opportunity to expand their benefits package in a direct impact on the state of well-being.