Half of Singaporeans find their bosses unsupportive of vacation time - online poll

Almost half of Singaporeans say their bosses are unsupportive of vacation time in the 2012 Vacation Deprivation Study by online travel company Expedia. 

As one of the world's most hardworking nations, Expedia says "Singapore has continued its trend of a poor work-life balance." 

Pressure from the top is one of the biggest contributing factors to Singaporeans failing to take all their annual leave, resulting in many rolling over vacation days to the following year. 

Among the worrying insights into the workaholic nature of Singaporeans - 

· 41% of Singaporeans have postponed vacations for work
· Close to 80% of Singaporeans check in at work while on holiday
· 34% of Singaporeans indicated the company pressures keep them from taking a holiday
· 34% of Singaporeans are unable to plan their vacation in advance because of work
· Most Singaporeans surveys indicated that they work an average of 44 hours a week, the most in the world 

Expedia annually conducts a Vacation Deprivation study that analyzes vacation habits of employed individuals across multiple countries and continents. 

The 2012 study did an online poll with 8,500 employees across 22 countries (between September 13 and October 12, 2012) and has been expanded to include Taiwan and Malaysia, alongside Singapore, US, UK, France, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India. 

This year's survey revealed that the most demanding bosses are right here in the region, where 50% of respondents in Asia surveyed were unsure if their bosses are supportive of them taking time off. 

On the whole, the study showed that Asia represents the world's most vacation-deprived region, with employees continuing to take the fewest days off and work the longest weeks. 

Japanese and Koreans workers trail the field with the average Japanese worker taking only five out of the 13 days off granted each year and South Koreans take seven out of a possible 10 vacation days. 

Asian employees also work the longest weeks with Korean, Singaporean and Taiwanese workers clocking in a staggering average of 44 hours a week. 

The study also showed that an average of 50% of respondents in Asia were unsure if their bosses are supportive of them taking time off, with 59% of Koreans and 54% of Taiwanese citing their head honchos an obstacle to taking a holiday, while 36% of Singaporeans pointed the finger at their boss for vacation woes. 

At 24%, employees in India are the luckiest workers within the region when it comes to receiving positive affirmation from their bosses for taking days off.