The average employee is working significantly longer hours than they were five years ago, research has found.
A study by employment law firm Peninsula revealed that, on average, employees are spending half a day more in work than they were in 2002, and a whole day more than a decade ago.
The research also found that men are typically putting in longer hours in the workplace than women.
Alan Price, head of HR business practice at Peninsula, commented: “Flexible working is not something that is evident in our figures; it seems that the working week is getting longer with an increase in people spending more time at work.”
The research found that 36% of employees work in excess of 48 hours per week. In 1997 only 26% of those polled worked over 48 hours and 30% in 2002.
Although the research found that this was not management-led – 96% of those do so out of choice – employers were urged to discourage staff from working excessively long hours.
Price added: “Working longer hours can put a strain on personal life and it's ideal if businesses can offer increased flexibility.
“Where possible employers should try to adopt family-friendly working time measures such as flexi-time, emergency family leave and part-time work. Importantly employers should monitor the number of hours worked to ensure staff do not work excessive hours.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
