Workers in Ireland need 10 days off to fully recharge from work

• SD Worx research shows 60% of workers in Ireland favour a mix of short breaks and longer holidays
• A quarter of Irish workers prefer short, ad hoc breaks throughout the year
• Over 70% of employees say they were able to take all of their holidays last year
• More than half say they can take time off without creating pressure for colleagues
• 54% of Irish employees are encouraged by their manager to take leave regularly, compared with a European average of 41%

SD Worx Ireland, a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, today announces the results of research which shows that employees in Ireland need an average of 10 consecutive days – including weekends – to properly recharge from work. This is below the European average of 13 days. 

As summer holiday season kicks off, the survey also suggests that the way Irish employees take annual leave and recover from work is changing. Rather than relying on one long annual break, almost 60% now favour a mix of short, ad hoc breaks and longer-stay holidays. Meanwhile, a quarter of Irish workers prefer short, ad hoc breaks throughout the year.

Independent research from SD Worx surveyed 5,936 employers and 16,500 employees across 16 European countries, including 1,000 employees and 301 employers in the Republic of Ireland. The Irish findings point to a preference for flexible and fragmented annual leave, with important implications for how employers plan capacity, manage workloads and maintain service levels throughout the year.

The research points to a relatively positive annual leave culture in Ireland. Over 70% of employees say they were able to take all their holidays last year, while more than half (55%) say they can take time off without creating additional pressure for colleagues.

Ireland stands out for strong manager support when it comes to holidays, too, with 54% of employees encouraged to take leave regularly versus a European average of 41%. This makes manager support, visibility of workloads and clear planning processes increasingly important.

While employees increasingly favour more flexible leave patterns, 76% of workers in Ireland must make advance requests for leave, with an average required lead time of 27 days. This suggests that Ireland’s preference for shorter, more ad-hoc breaks creates a disconnect between employee expectations for flexibility and the employer need for predictability.

As leave becomes more distributed, organisations need better visibility of capacity, clearer team agreements and workforce planning tools that can support both wellbeing and business continuity.

Eimear Byrne, Managing Director, SD Worx Ireland, said: “This is not simply a conversation about how much leave employees have. It’s about how leave is taken and the increasing complexity that it creates for organisations trying to plan capacity, manage workloads, and maintain service levels. Employers are managing a more complex leave landscape than ever before. They still need to be able to accommodate peak holiday season, but they must also ensure that the business can operate smoothly throughout the entire year as leave becomes more distributed.

“Workforce planning is becoming a strategic capability. Employees are looking for flexibility not just with regards to where and when they work, but with their holidays, too. Organisations that can balance flexibility with structure, using data and better planning tools, will be in a stronger position to support their people while maintaining performance.”

The research was carried out by iVOX on behalf of SD Worx between January and February 2026 across 1,000 employees and 301 employers in the Republic of Ireland. The survey was conducted in 16 European countries: Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. A total of 5,936 employers and 16,500 employees were surveyed.

SD Worx believes that success starts with people. A thriving workforce doesn’t just build a thriving company, it also contributes to society. Together with its customers, SD Worx sparks successful HR that benefits work, life and society. As the trusted leading European HR and payroll solutions provider for all organisations and workers, SD Worx delivers software, services and expertise across payroll and reward, human capital management and workforce management. In 2022, SD Worx strengthened its presence in Ireland by acquiring Intelligo, a trusted payroll solution in Ireland for nearly 30 years.

About 105,000 small and large organisations across Europe place their trust in SD Worx. Some 10,000 colleagues operate in 27 countries. SD Worx calculates the salaries of approximately six million employees and ranks among the top five worldwide. It achieved revenues of €1.307 billion in 2025. More information is available at www.sdworx.ie. Follow SD Worx Ireland on LinkedIn, Instagram at @sdworxireland and Facebook at SD Worx Ireland.