Long working hours in the UK are now on the increase with more than one in eight employees working a 48-hour week.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) believes the findings from its new analysis show that lack of enforcement means some employers are finding it easy to breach working time rules. They believe that some employers have responded to concerns for a greater work-life balance but a ‘hard core of bad employers’ are ignoring advice from the government and unions.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Many employers recognise that overworked staff are unproductive by introducing more flexibility and better work-life balance, often under union pressure. But it now looks as if their efforts are being undone by those who don't care about long hours. No one should forget that 48 hours is six eight-hour days - more than enough for anyone every week.”
Regionally the data shows that London had one of the highest increases in working hours with one in six working for more than 48 hours per week.
“There is undoubted abuse of the law, but employers know they can get away with it because it is rarely enforced,” added Barber. “Neither the Health and Safety Executive nor local authorities that share responsibility for enforcement have the resources to implement the law. And the government knows that employers can abuse the opt-out as ministers consulted on ways to close loopholes in 2004, but have yet to bring forward any concrete proposals for change.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
