Summer "SAD" leaves many demotivated
August 1, 2008
New research published by the Government's Training and Development Agency for Schools has concluded that over half (58%) of UK workers suffer from "Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder" or Summer SAD, which leaves many demotivated, unhappy and even close to quitting their jobs.
Summer SAD, also known as Reverse SAD, is a variation on SAD, which is caused by a lack of access to natural light.
In the case of Summer SAD, it is thought that symptoms may be related to excessive heat, rather than light. Symptoms of Summer SAD are said to include poor appetite, weight loss, insomnia, agitation and anxiety.
The poll, which examined how the UK workforce feels about working over the summer, indicated that:
- 39% of office workers believe Summer SAD detracts from their motivation to work
- 8% of workers are more likely to call in sick during the summer months
- almost 20% said they spend their summer daydreaming out of the window
- 7% tend to look for another job in the summer
The survey also delved into how UK workers use their summer months at work, comparing and contrasting the experiences of different professions.
With 13 weeks of holiday a year, teachers are more likely to use the summer period for extended breaks; 25% of teachers use their time to take long holidays abroad - double the amount of most other professions.
For employees in the health and education sectors, the summer also presents an opportunity to spend more time with the family, with more than 40% using the summer break to spend time with their children, compared to around 20% for people in human resources, media and marketing.
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