Vacations should serve to disconnect from work, but this separation remains difficult for many Spanish workers. According to various recent studies, more than eight out of ten professionals answer work calls or messages outside their usual hours, and nearly two out of three continue engaging with communications during their vacations. This reality especially affects frontline employees, known as deskless workers, who often rely on their personal mobile phones to receive instructions, shift changes, or operational notices.
The keys to work disconnection in 20 seconds
- 81.6% of workers handle work communications outside their working hours.
- 63% admit they keep responding during their vacations.
- Frontline employees find it more challenging to separate work from rest.
- Experts point out that organizing corporate communication is key to ensuring the right to disconnect.
Digital disconnection has become one of the main challenges in the labor market, especially during summer. Although the right to disconnect is legally recognized in Spain, daily practice shows that many companies still have not established clear boundaries between work time and rest.
Not all workers can activate “out of office”
A large part of the debate on digital disconnection often focuses on office employees who use corporate email, laptops, or digital tools that can be turned off after working hours.
However, the reality is quite different for millions of workers who carry out their activities outside the office.
Retail personnel, logistics, hospitality, maintenance, industry, or customer service workers often work in variable shifts and need to receive operational information constantly. In many companies, this communication continues to be carried out via apps like WhatsApp and using the employee’s personal phone.
In these cases, the end of the workday does not always mean stopping to receive work-related messages.
More calls and messages outside working hours
The Spain Occupational Wellbeing and Health Study 2026, conducted by Edenred and Savia and reported by Ommnio, shows that 81.6% of professionals answer work calls or messages outside their working hours. This is an increase of 16.6 percentage points compared to the previous year.
The situation does not improve during vacations either.
An InfoJobs survey published in 2025 indicates that 63% of workers still respond to calls, messages, or emails while enjoying their time off. Additionally, two out of three employees believe their company does not implement specific measures to promote digital disconnection.
The organization of communication also matters
Experts agree that the problem is not solely due to individual behavior.
The way companies organize their communication channels also plays a crucial role in guaranteeing rest periods.
According to the InfoJobs survey, only 9% of workers state that their company carries out awareness campaigns about the right to disconnect. The same percentage reports having automatic responses informing about service hours and providing an alternative contact in case of emergencies.
For Anna Quintero, CEO of Ommnio, the situation is particularly complex for frontline employees.
She explains that when work communication is managed from personal mobile phones via messaging apps, it becomes much more difficult to clearly separate professional activity from rest time.
Disconnecting requires more than just turning off your mobile
The need to set boundaries is also reflected in other European studies.
The HR & Payroll Pulse 2026 report, conducted by SD Worx, concludes that Spanish workers believe they need an average of 27.1 days of vacation to completely disconnect from work, one of the highest figures among the analyzed countries.
In sectors where activity depends on shifts or where unexpected incidents can occur, having specific communication tools can help ensure employees receive only the necessary information during working hours, not during their rest periods.
Moreover, extraordinary situations such as weather phenomena, fires, or operational incidents sometimes require quick contact with teams. Experts believe that having dedicated professional platforms separate from personal messaging apps helps maintain responsiveness without making workers’ availability constant.
Experts conclude that the challenge is not only to promote the right to disconnect but also to design communication systems that effectively respect workers’ rest times, including those who have never had a “out of office” button.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of workers respond to messages outside work hours?
According to the Spain Occupational Wellbeing and Health Study 2026, 81.6% of professionals answer work-related calls or messages outside their working hours.
Do workers stay connected during vacations?
Yes. An InfoJobs survey indicates that 63% continue responding to calls, messages, or emails during their time off.
Who has more difficulties disconnecting?
Primarily frontline workers or deskless workers who work outside offices and often use their personal mobile phones to receive work communications.
What can companies do to promote disconnection?
Experts recommend establishing specific professional channels for work communication, defining clear protocols outside working hours, and promoting measures that respect employees’ rest periods.
