London: Though laptops and wireless Internet connections are considered inseparable tools for the new-age executives, they are spoiling their holidays and increasingly ruining their family relationships, a psychologist has warned.

A growing number of people who take laptops with them during holidays find it difficult to switch off and spend most of their hard-found leisure time in working on laptops, the Daily Telegraph Thursday quoted a psychologist as saying.

"People simply should not take laptops on holiday with them. They are taking their office with them and they just shouldn't do it," said Cary Cooper, professor at Lancaster University management school's department of psychology and health.

Cooper warned the problem has "mushroomed with the spread of wireless hot spots".

"The rise in mobile phone and Internet technology has already affected our weekends and now it is invading annual holidays. Sensible bosses and workers should insist that holidays are computer free," he suggested.

Coopers said the current credit crisis has aggravated the problem with people keeping themselves glued to their computer systems monitoring emails during vacations as they have become increasingly insecure about their jobs.

According to a survey by IT security company Credant Technologies, almost two-thirds of brokers in London said they were contacting their offices through phone or emails while on vacation.

A whopping 83 percent admitted to taking their office mobile phone or BlackBerry with them while they are away.

More than a quarter said they check emails daily and 14 percent admitted to doing so more than once a day, the survey said.

"People worry about a backlog and that things will be missed while they are away. They feel a need to be constantly online and checking their emails. This insecurity is endemic to the service-based industries," said Cooper.

"Unfortunately the worst offenders are people in management from all walks of life. This includes the public sector, marketing and journalists."

"I can understand why people take mobile phones, but they should only be used sparingly, as a 'security blanket'. They should be kept switched off most of the time," he stated.

According to him, taking work on holidays could deprive people of "much needed rest and recuperation" from demanding jobs and it could also lead to family break-ups.

"People should remember a holiday isn't just for rest and recuperation but to commune again with your family, connect with your kids."

He also said those who show that they can work for their organisation even on holidays are actually cheating themselves.

"Obviously if the employee is stupid enough to take their laptop with them and tell their employer that they are available then they are going to be exploited," he said.