Most American workers stay connected after hours, survey finds

A new survey from Discover Africa Safaris finds 87% of employed U.S. adults keep working outside standard hours, with many saying constant connectivity is fueling stress and burnout. The results also show workers are willing to pay for real disconnection, especially when travel offers distance, nature and little or no internet access.

Why it matters: - Work is bleeding into personal time for most U.S. workers, raising the risk of stress, exhaustion and burnout. - The survey suggests many employees do not want less flexibility. They want clearer boundaries and a real ability to unplug. - The findings also point to growing demand for travel experiences that create distance from work, technology and constant connectivity.

What happened: - Discover Africa Safaris surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults who were currently employed or had worked within the past 12 months. - The survey found 87% of working U.S. adults complete work-related tasks outside standard hours. - Thirty-eight percent spend more than one extra hour working each day. - Sixteen percent spend more than three additional hours on work each day. - Only 13% of American workers completely avoid work outside standard hours. - Nearly half, 47%, keep working for at least one hour after leaving the office or finishing their scheduled day. - Thirty-one percent work one to three additional hours, and 16% work more than three hours.

The details: - Generation Z workers were the most likely to work beyond standard hours, with half spending at least one additional hour on work-related tasks. - Baby Boomers were the most likely to fully clock out, with 21% saying they avoid working outside their standard schedule. - After-hours connectivity has a positive effect for some workers. - Eighteen percent say being connected makes them feel more informed or in control. - Sixteen percent say it makes them feel more productive or motivated. - Twenty-one percent feel neutral or unaffected by staying connected. - The emotional cost is higher for many others. - Thirty-eight percent report stress or anxiety because of constant connectivity. - Thirty-seven percent feel mentally exhausted or burned out. - Thirty-five percent feel overwhelmed by constant access to work and digital communication. - More than half, 54%, say they stay connected to protect their professional reputation. - Twenty-three percent push through burnout because stepping away feels less safe. - Thirty-two percent say taking time off is the safest way to avoid personal or professional burnout. - Taking time off does not always mean taking a real break. - Only 29% say their employers actively support and encourage time off. - Another 34% report no clear workplace response either way. - Twenty-one percent return to a heavier workload after time away. - Eighteen percent feel subtle workplace pressure after taking a break. - Nineteen percent take time off despite possible professional consequences. - Only 19% said they had been able to disconnect for at least one full week without consequences during the past year. - Fourteen percent disconnected for a few hours. - Thirteen percent disconnected for up to one full day. - Nineteen percent disconnected for one or two days. - Nine percent said they had not been able to disconnect at all without consequences. - Cost is a major barrier to meaningful time off. - Fifteen percent say they cannot afford the required time or expense. - Seven percent say meaningful disconnection is mainly available to people with greater financial resources. - Ten percent say anyone can disconnect if they make it a priority. - Nine percent say they currently feel no need to fully unplug. - Forty-two percent would spend at least $500 to fully disconnect for five to seven days. - Twenty-five percent would spend $1,000 or more for a week away. - Sixteen percent would spend between $250 and $500. - Seventeen percent would spend between $500 and $1,000. - Twelve percent would spend between $1,000 and $2,500. - Thirteen percent would spend more than $2,500. - Five percent would spend more than $5,000. - Twenty-six percent do not currently plan to spend money specifically on disconnecting. - Nineteen percent would keep their budget below $250. - Twenty-five percent said personal internet access would be the hardest thing to give up for a week. - Twenty percent chose work communication as the hardest connection to lose. - Another 20% said contact with friends and family would be hardest to give up. - Thirty-nine percent say no internet or Wi-Fi is necessary to fully disconnect. - Thirty-four percent say they need to be somewhere without cell service. - Thirty-one percent say they must lose access to work email or messaging. - Thirty percent need to be unreachable by their employer. - Twenty-seven percent need confidence that their finances can absorb the cost of the break. - Twenty-seven percent need to be surrounded by nature or wildlife. - Twenty-four percent need physical distance from cities or crowds. - Generation Z placed especially high value on nature and financial security. - Thirty-two percent of Gen Z said nature or wildlife is essential to unplugging. - Thirty percent said they need to be physically removed from cities or crowds. - Thirty-one percent of Gen Z said they need confidence in their finances before they can relax, compared with 16% of Baby Boomers. - The full study is available in Discover Africa Safaris' report.

Between the lines: - The survey points to a split between flexibility and availability. - Workers appear willing to keep the option to work when it suits them, but not to remain on call all the time. - Nature, distance from cities and limited connectivity function as practical boundaries for people trying to stop checking work. - The results also suggest that vacations alone do not guarantee recovery if workplace expectations follow employees out of office.

What's next: - Employers may need to set clearer norms around time off, workload coverage and after-hours contact. - Travelers looking to fully unplug are likely to keep seeking remote, nature-based trips that reduce digital noise. - Discover Africa Safaris is positioning African safari experiences as one way to create that kind of separation from daily work routines.

The bottom line: - For many Americans, disconnecting is no longer a simple matter of turning off a laptop. It now takes boundaries, support and, for some, a destination far from Wi-Fi, cell service and the pressure to stay available.