Holiday Work Stress and Layoff Anxiety Cloud Employee Time Off, Survey Finds

A new Harris Poll commissioned by Dayforce Inc. reveals growing tension between holiday cheer and workplace strain among full-time employees in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. While 95% of workers plan to take time off during the holiday season, less than half expect to fully unplug. Many report staying partially connected due to employer pressure, fear of layoffs, or a desire to stay ahead.

For claims professionals, this data offers a critical lens into the mindset of policyholders and workforce peers during a high-volume season for time-off requests, weather-related claims, and increased operational stress. The findings show that 35% of employees plan to work during holidays due to layoff concerns—a telling indicator of economic unease that could intersect with insurance fraud risks or affect responsiveness in claims processing environments.

Holiday stressors aren’t limited to workload. Financial anxiety, personal obligations, and emotional exhaustion compound year-end burnout, with 53% of employees reporting higher-than-usual fatigue. This has direct implications for adjuster productivity and mental wellness, especially during catastrophe-prone months when workload spikes.

Notably, a trend toward "holiday upskilling" has emerged, with 41% of respondents planning to learn how AI can enhance their work, and 58% expressing broader interest in AI tools. For claims professionals navigating the shift toward digital workflows and automation, this signals increasing employee readiness to adapt—a potentially strategic inflection point for training and workforce development in claims organizations.

The report underscores the importance of employer actions during peak stress seasons. Flexible schedules, boundaries around communication, and non-monetary recognition are among the top stress relievers cited. For insurers and adjusting firms, adopting these strategies could improve retention and performance heading into 2026.