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British employees would rather work more
sensible hours than win the lottery according to a new survey
out today into working patterns across the UK.
The survey, carried out by the Department
of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Work-Life Balance Campaign and
Management Today, revealed that one in five workers want a
better work life balance and that there has been a steep rise
in the number of people who work excessive hours over the
last two years.
The study also raises concerns about long
hours and illness, as 7 out of 10 stressed workers do not
have any access to formal flexible working practices. There
is strong evidence to suggest that long hours and lack of
flexible working options have a detrimental effect on stress
levels. British industry loses £370 million every year to
stress-related sick leave (Health & Safety Executive).
The main findings are:
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1 in 6 (16%) of workers surveyed now work over 60 hours
a week compared to just 1 in 8 (12%) of all UK workers
in 2000;
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The number of women working over 60 hours has more than
doubled from 1 in 16 (6%) in 2000 to approximately 1 in
8 today (13%);
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Twice as many employees would rather work shorter hours
than win the lottery;
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Three quarters (75%) of employees currently work overtime,
and of these, only a third (36%) are rewarded with extra
pay or time off in lieu;
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7 out of 10 (72%) highly stressed workers do not have
access to any formal flexible working practices;
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The largest proportion of very stressed workers - 1
in 5 (19%) - are in their mid to late thirties
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1 in 5 (19%) men have visited the doctor because of
stress, rising to one quarter (23%) of over 40s;
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Nearly half of employees (48%) say that their employer
will only step in to redress a work-life problem when
a crisis looms;
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Over a quarter of workers (25%) would like to get a
better balance but think that their career would suffer;
and 4 in 10 (40%) unstressed workers play regular sport
compared to one quarter (25%) of those with high stress
levels.
The government is committed to helping make flexible working
an option for all workers, in particular those with young
families. From April 2003, parents of young and disabled children
will gain the right to apply to work flexibly and employers
will have to consider their requests seriously. Maternity
leave and pay will increase and fathers will have a new right
to paternity leave. These new rights will increase parents'
opportunities to work flexibly. The DTI is also running a
campaign to encourage all employers to introduce ways of working
which improve the work-life balance of their employees but
which also benefit business success. Commenting on the findings,
Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry,
said:
"More and more British workers are recognising that balancing
quality of life and family is as important as a fulfilling
career. People clearly want greater control and choice over
their working hours but lack the confidence and the knowledge
to do anything about it.
"Stressed workers with frayed nerves cannot perform to
their maximum and employers know the damage this can do
to commercial success - stress costs British industry £370
million a year. That is why it is down to employers and
employees to work together to find sensible work-life balance
solutions, which will result in better results, higher productivity
and increased commitment.
"I am determined to get the merits of flexible working
onto the business agenda especially for the parents of young
children who often find it the most difficult to balance
work and home life. From April 2003, parents of children
aged under six, or disabled children under 18, will have
greater opportunities to work flexibly and new parents will
also enjoy improved maternity and paternity allowances."
Matthew Gwyther, editor of Management Today, added:
"This is the fourth year Management Today has conducted a
survey into work-life balance. The phrase is now firmly established
as part of our business lexicon, yet the results show that
in reality many employees are still struggling to achieve
it.
"Let's not forget that for some employees working a 60-hour-week
is enjoyable - they do it because they want to. But for others
long hours are a source of stress. Stressed employees have
a negative impact on the business and employers must combat
this by putting in place formal policies that allow for a
more flexible approach to work. Helping workers to balance
their work and home lives is no longer simply a supplement
to traditional management methods, but essential best practice."
Further information about the DTI Work-Life Balance Campaign
can be found on www.dti.gov.uk/work-lifebalance
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