Going away for Christmas? Try to leave your work behind.

Some lucky employees will jet off to sunnier climes this Christmas for a family get together. For many the intention will be to leave all thoughts of work behind, along with the miserable weather at this time of year.However technology has ensured work can be at the end of our finger tips, and prove to be an unwelcome distraction.

Almost all employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday leave a year, which provide the perfect opportunity to switch off and relax before returning to work refreshed and raring to go.

But, be warned there are bosses not afraid to disrupt an employee’s rest and relaxation if loose ends need tying up, or if they need to have a word about a particular matter.

The Working Time Regulations provide a right to statutory holiday entitlement, which should prevent employers pressuring employees to work while on holiday.

Company mobile phones make it easy enough to stay in touch with what is going on at work, but using it while on holiday could come at a very high cost.

To borrow the slogan of one telecommunications company…it’s good to talk – but it can also be very expensive when using the company mobile on holiday.

There is a danger those nasty roaming charges, for taking and making calls abroad or picking up voice messages, could be considered excessive usage and lead to a breach of an employer’s mobile phone usage policy.

A quick internet search for how to avoid roaming charges will produce some useful tips.The good news is, roaming charges in Europe are set to be scrapped late next year.