More Americans expect to mix work and vacation this summer

As Americans, we like to say that we work hard and play hard. But what happens when work invades our play time?

A new survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that 61% of Americans plan to work during summer vacation this year, up from the 52% who were mixing work and leisure last year.

The survey of 1,094 employed Americans shows that the economy is pushing workers to do more.

Just ask John Husing, an economist from Redlands who communicated with clients and reporters via the Internet during a recent adventure trip on a boat from Tasmania to the Antarctic coast.

“It’s the anxiety of not wanting to be out of the loop as a private business owner,� he explained. “I don’t want to be thought of as not being available.�

But many Americans are not happy about giving up their vacation time for work.

The survey, commissioned by online-meeting software company TeamViewer, found that 34% of those surveyed plan to work but don’t expect to be happy about it. And, yes, there were a few (14%) who said they would be happy to work on vacation time.

Because the U.S. is pulling out of the worst recession in a generation, Husing said, workers want to do what it takes to make their bosses happy.

“The ghost of this is going to hang around for a long time,� he said.

There were some, about 22%, who said they would refuse to work during vacation, and 2% said they would quit their jobs.

Others, the survey said, would simply vent by throwing something (4%) or crying (3%).

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