Majority of SME owners plan to work through Christmas holidays

Around three-quarters of small business owners across the UK are planning to work during the festive holiday season, according to research by OnePoll on behalf of Xero.

Almost half of SME owners will be spending as much as three hours per day on business tasks, with 17 per cent confirming they’ll be taking no time off at all.

When asked what they hoped to achieve in the next two years and the way in which they would balance their work-life commitments, the results suggest real differences between the psyche of younger and older entrepreneurs.

Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of business owners aged 45-54 are focused solely on their bottom line, compared to just 35 per cent of entrepreneurs aged 18-24.

In addition, younger entrepreneurs are expected to have a better handle on juggling priorities, with just 17 per cent of 18-24 year-olds and 10 per cent of 25-34 year-olds feeling the need to improve their work-life balance, compared with 39 per cent of 45-54 year-olds and 42 per cent of over 55 year-olds.

Gary Turner, managing director, Xero, said: “Annual leave is one of the many employee benefits that small business owners sacrifice, because it could have a detrimental impact on the bottom line.

“Getting a good work-life balance is very tricky, but it’s really important that we all switch off occasionally.

“It’s a question of balance: if you’re waiting to board a plane, relaxing with a coffee or stuck in a queue, why not log in and check your emails or accounts?

“On the other hand, when you’re spending time with the family or headed for the beach or ski slopes, I say leave your work behind.”

Date published 29 Dec 2014 | Last updated 29 Dec 2014