Almost Six in Ten Wexford Workers Not Taking Full Annual Leave Entitlements

Almost six in ten workers in County Wexford are failing to use their full annual leave entitlements, according to a new survey.

The 2026 Annual Leave Report from FRS Recruitment found that 58% of Wexford employees did not take all their allocated holidays, significantly higher than the national average of 43%.

The findings also reveal growing demand for greater flexibility and a better work-life balance.

Two-thirds of Wexford respondents (67%) believe Christmas holidays should be separate from their annual leave allocation, while 73% would like to see the standard number of annual leave days increased.

Nationally, almost three in ten workers (29%) had at least five days of annual leave remaining unused, while 12% reported losing unused holiday days altogether.

The survey also found that 64% of respondents used annual leave for foreign travel, with Spain emerging as the most popular destination.

Lynne McCormack, General Manager with FRS Recruitment, described the growing number of employees failing to take their holidays as concerning.

"Time off from work is necessary for people to manage their wellbeing and these findings raise concerns that annual leave is not being used effectively."

She said employers should pay greater attention to workers' expectations around flexibility and work-life balance, particularly when trying to attract and retain staff.

The report also found that 60% of respondents nationally supported the introduction of a four-day working week, even if it meant a reduction in salary.