Managers more attentive to work-life balance: tripling of those disconnected on holiday

Summer connected yes, but for many fewer managers than in the past. Those who say they will eclipse themselves during the summer holidays have in fact almost tripled compared to ten years ago, a sign of greater attention to the balance between private and work. Pressured by a very challenging socio-economic environment that will welcome them back with many more challenges than in the past, from tariffs to energy costs, they show a greater tendency to value personal and family well-being and reflection during the summer break. A survey of one thousand managers, carried out by AstraRicerche for Manageritalia, the federation representing over 45,000 managers and senior professionals in the service sector in Italy, shows that although managers are professionals who never completely eclipse themselves and always remain somewhat connected, they are beginning to re-evaluate the value of personal time compared to the past. The survey, comparing this year's data with that of 2019, reveals a different approach, more attentive to personal well-being.

To eclipse themselves, most do not chase the deserted Greek island or the exotic location to discover who knows what unspoilt culture. Among the various destinations of their summer holidays, three out of four remain in Italy. In second place is Europe. Although the percentages are smaller, those who go to Asia double, rising from 3.7% last year to 8.1%, while those who go to North America decrease (from 6.4% a year ago to 3.9%).

A first statistic is that almost everyone will take a holiday: 94.8% of managers said they had taken or were planning to take a holiday between June and September 2025. Compared to 95.6% in 2019, the figure appears to be slightly down. Of these managers, 12.7 per cent say they will be completely disconnected during their holiday, up sharply from 7.9 per cent in 2019 and almost three times the 4.9 per cent in 2014. A sign of a slow but significant cultural change. It must be said, however, that 73.7% say they will always remain reachable by co-workers, and 69.5% will continue to read work emails. While there is a strong culture of being on call, again the shares are down from the past: in 2019 they were 82% and 74.5% respectively. "The data confirm what we live every day: the modern manager can no longer ignore the importance of a balance between personal and professional life - interprets Marco Ballarè, President of Manageritalia -. Being always on call is no longer a boast, but a challenge to be managed with awareness. Holidays thus become a laboratory of balance, where the real exercise is not to switch off, but to know how to choose when and how to be connected'.

The comparison between 2019 and 2025 also shows a clear deterioration in the expectations and mood of managers when they return from their holidays, largely due to the uncertain economic and political environment marked by war and instability. Optimism fell by 12.9%, and the desire to get things done fell by just over 9% compared to 2019: this year 40.3% of managers are talking about it, while in 2019 it was 49.6%. The survey also shows that sadness about the end of the holidays doubles, with 22.9% of managers talking about it this year, compared to 11.8% in 2019. On the other hand, curiosity and eagerness to see what the work resumption will be like in September are growing.

For almost the entire community of Italian managers, the summer period is experienced as a time to be with the family (97.5%), to rest their minds (92.8%), but also to read books unrelated to their professional activities (81.5%) or more simply to do the extra-work activities that they are unable to do during the year, as almost 80% of those interviewed say. There are two activities that have risen sharply compared to the past: resting the body, as said by 79.8%, i.e. 11.1% more than in 2019, and spending time with friends, as said by 78.1%, i.e. 19.2% more than in 2019). There is also no shortage of reflections related to the professional sphere: 47% use their holiday to rethink their career, 41.7% take advantage of it to focus on high-level strategic work reflections. Only 14% plan to use this summer break to update or train professionally.