As more workers are taking their iPhones or Blackberrys on holiday with them, people are now never truly on holiday, as they can be reached with an onslaught of office emails at all times.  In fact, according to an Institute of Leadership and Management survey, a great deal of these people are even working during their holiday.

The research findings, which included the responses of 2,500 managers, shows that modern technology is now hurting workers, and warns that the idea of using a holiday to unwind and switch off is quickly vanishing.

Instead of spending time with their families while on holidays, many managers are now spending their time taking office calls, checking emails, and responding to queries.

Chief executive of the institute, Penny de Valk, stated the days when people simply left work for a week in the holiday and took a break are now gone.  She added that now that people can work remotely with technology it is much harder to just turn off from the work setting.

About 33% of those polled stated they worked during their holidays and an astonishing 80% reported that they respond frequently to emails while on holiday.  Another 50% stated they took phone calls on holiday and even ten percent stated they went into the office during their holiday break.

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The USA remains one of the most popular countries as an immigration destination in the world. Although it is not always easy to gain entry to the U.S., other than as a visitor, there are still a variety of options for a foreign national to explore if they wish to emigrate there. Entering the U.S. on a work visa is one example. But, as with obtaining any visa to the U.S., a working visa entails a multi-step process.

Firstly, a foreign national who wishes to become an immigrant to the U.S. because of the employment opportunities must determine if he or she is eligible for legal permanent residency in the U.S. Secondly, he or she must obtain a complete labour certification request filed by a U.S. employer at the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The Department of Labor may deny this request. Thirdly, the foreign national applicant must obtain an immigrant visa petition, Form I-140, or Petition for Alien Worker approved by the CIS. This petition can only be filed by the employer after the labour certification is granted. With regards to a US working visa, the employer is always the petitioner or sponsor for foreign nationals who want to work or live permanently in the U.S.

If the hopeful applicant is in the U.S., they must obtain an immigrant visa number from the State Department. After the immigrant visa number becomes available, the applicant may then apply for permanent residency status. But in the case where the applicant is still in his or her home country when the immigration number becomes available, he or she is required to complete the USA immigration process at the U.S. consulate office in that home country.

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They are aware that getting a working holiday visa to Australia can sometime be very daunting, and this will hopefully help answer a lot of peoples questions.

Click on the Tourism Australia MySpace where you can find the widget and start asking your questions: http://www.myspace.com/workinoz

Tourism Australia: Aussie Beaches & Coastal

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With unemployment figures rising and job security declining, volunteering has now become a realistic holiday option, with volunteer networking website, www.ecoteer.com, seeing a marked increase in demand, since its inception in 2005, from people keen to generate valuable work experience abroad and make a difference to a local community. Furthermore, since the economic downturn took hold, www.ecoteer.com has seen a noticeable shift in the demographics of its typical volunteer. It is no longer solely the domain of the under or post graduate (55.4 per cent), with 44 per cent of Ecoteer’s volunteers aged 30 years and above, seeking to gain valuable work experience, including those recently made redundant and silver travellers.

Access to international volunteer programmes in conservation, ecotourism, teaching and community development could never be easier, thanks to www.ecoteer.com. The site specialises in cheap volunteer work holidays and volunteer jobs abroad, by directly linking volunteers with projects from Argentina to Zambia.

Ecoteer offers a new approach to volunteering abroad, putting volunteers directly in touch with grass root organisations, cutting out the expensive handling costs, often charged by other organisations. Volunteers simply need to become members of www.ecoteer.com, paying just £10 annual membership, which then gives them direct access to organisations in need of support. Volunteers can then simply expect to pay travel expenses, with food and accommodation costs included in many cases.

According to website founder, 26 year old Daniel Quilter, “In a global recession spending less on holidays can really pay off for both volunteers and local communities. Many people are now looking beyond the glossy travel brochures and considering more altruistic travel options, whether for a brief two week stint or a 12 month sabbatical. Not only does volunteering abroad offer travellers the opportunity to help their host countries during their stay, but perhaps more importantly in the current economic climate, it can provide invaluable work experience and a cheap holiday alternative.”

“Volunteering can have very real benefits to career development, in terms of improved communication skills, problem solving, leadership skills, confidence and contentment, all of which could prove invaluable in the work place and in an interview scenario.”

Since setting up the website in 2005, after struggling to initially secure his own volunteer placement, Daniel has helped over 1,000 people link up with volunteer projects.

The site currently has over 150 projects listed, so members can gain access to a spectrum of opportunities from ecotourism in Malaysia, conservation in Argentina, teaching in Ecuador to humanitarian research in Uganda, farming in India and community development in South Africa. All the projects are thoroughly vetted by Ecoteer volunteers on the ground, are ethically responsible and ecologically sound, with travellers being met at airports and transferred to the projects. There are no prerequisites required for those wishing to volunteer. All that Ecoteer asks for is some enthusiastic people willing to make a difference in the world.

For further information on Ecoteer visit www.ecoteer.com.

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Set amongst the stunning scenery and world-famous snow conditions of Fernie, Red Mountain, Whistler and Banff, select from sociable improvement camps and instructor courses that take powder skills to new heights whilst giving your CV a welcome (ski) lift that’s sure to appeal to prospective employers.

Two weeks in Western Canada cost from £2,300 pp including flights, accommodation and professional coaching whilst 11 weeks in this wintry wonderland start from just £5,850 pp (under £525 a week). Departures from November 2008. Call NONSTOP Ski & Snowboard on 0845 365 1525 (www.nonstopski.com).

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Gap year travel enhances the CV, helping to secure a dream job or university course. You cana pack it full of amazing experiences, learn new skills and even  play your part in saving the world!

Here are a selection of ideas to consider.

For Outdoor Types

African Conservation Experience organises two-12 week trips to ten conservation projects in South Africa and Botswana, all offering hands-on involvement with wild animals.  For more information visit www.conservationafrica.net or call 0870 241 5816.

For Sporty Types

NONSTOP Ski and Snowboard and NONSTOP Sail. Qualifying as a ski instructor or skipper is not only great fun, but will demonstrate commitment and skill to would-be employers, setting your CV apart from a mountain of others! For more information visit www.nonstopski.com, www.nonstopsnowboard.com and www.nonstopsail.com or call 0845 365 1525 (ski/board) or 01803 833 399 (sail).

For Party Animals

Jingando Holidays offers bespoke and small-group learn-to-dance holidays to Rio de Janeiro with an ethical twist: guests get to be charitable while learning the sambá and salsa at an acclaimed dance school plus a smattering of Portuguese. For more information go to www.jingandoholidays.com or call 020 8877 1630.

For Eco-students

Explore’s Researching the Andean Condor trip combines 13 days of volunteering work with a 10-day small group adventure tour of Patagonia. For more information visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844 499 0901.

For everybody

Plan carefully and make the right gap year choice. Year Out Group is a not-for-profit organisation, consisting of 35 carefully-vetted member companies – specialists in their field – that comply with a strict Code of Practice and Operating Guidelines.  The range of programmes available in the UK and more than 80 countries worldwide includes study courses, cultural exchanges, expeditions, work placements and voluntary work. For more information visit www.yearoutgroup.org or call 01380 816 696.

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