It's that time of the year again...
The sun’s out, calendars are filling up… and the out of office replies are about to start rolling in.
But the question is – how much of your workforce will be heading for a summer break?
In 2026 we're a Staycation Nation
Despite rising fuel prices, holidays aren’t being cancelled – they’re just staying closer to home.
- Over 27,000 searches for “UK holiday 2026” were made in a single month
- More than 25 million Brits are opting for staycations – with campsites in parts of England reporting a rise in bookings
- And 53% of UK holidaymakers are more likely to choose caravans, motorhomes, or holiday homes over travelling abroad
When it comes to annual leave, demand doesn’t come in neat, manageable waves.
In 2025, August saw 11% more leave requests than July…which shows how pressure builds as summer goes on.
However, holidays aren’t the only drivers of summer absences…
The School's Out for Summer!
Summer isn’t just about holidays – for many, it’s about childcare.
- 75% of mothers and 90% of fathers are now in employment
- 49% of working parents rely on annual leave to cover the school holidays
With schools breaking up in late July and returning in early September, that creates a concentrated period where leave requests can spike significantly.
For employers, it’s a balancing act:
- Keeping operations running
- Managing fairness across teams
- Avoiding burnout for those still working
And Then… The World Cup
As if summer holidays weren’t enough – 2026 is bringing football into the mix.
The World Cup kicks off on the 11th June, and if previous tournaments are anything to go by, it will impact attendance.
- In 2022, up to 11 million people were expected to pull a sick day for England’s opening match
- Many 2026 kick-offs are expected between 9–10pm UK time, creating late nights (and slow mornings) – 26% of fans said they would stay up beyond 11pm to watch games
So it’s not just about who’s off…It’s also about:
- Tired teams
- Reduced productivity
- And a rise in presenteeism (being at work, but not fully there)
And it’s not only football, the summer sporting schedule is packed from tennis to formula one, horse racing and rugby – 34.2 million Brits admit to skipping work or responsibilities to watch sporting events.
From June’s kick-offs to September’s school returns, the summer period creates a perfect storm:
☀️ Holidays
👨👩👧 Childcare demands
⚽ Major sporting events
Individually manageable…
Combined? A real strain on your workforce.
The businesses that handle this period best don’t wait for the gaps to appear.
They plan ahead.
Flexible temporary staffing gives you the ability to:
- Cover absences quickly
- Maintain productivity
- Reduce pressure on your core team
- Avoid committing to long-term costs
Think of it as building your substitution bench – so you’re not relying on the same starting lineup all summer.
Summer disruption isn’t new - but in 2026, it’s coming from all angles.
The question isn’t whether you’ll feel it…it’s how prepared you’ll be when you do.
Plan your cover now and stay one step ahead.
Get in touch to keep your workforce running smoothly this summer – without adding fixed costs.
