Employees ‘are working longer hours than ever’

Posted 09/05/2010

Nearly a quarter of people are putting in longer hours at work than ever, according to new research.

A study carried out by financial provider Santander found that the average Briton works 41 hours per week for an annual salary of £27,150.

Of those polled, one in seven claimed they do at least 11 hours each week of overtime. However, only 41 per cent receive extra pay.

Commenting on the findings, Andy Smith, a spokesperson for Santander, said: “The downturn obviously had a disastrous impact on many, with job losses causing hardship for many families.”

He added that others have “put their noses to the grindstone” in order to increase their earnings and secure their positions.

However, Mr Smith warned that working too much can affect people’s work-life balance and erode their real wage.

According to Business Link, employment law states that people aged 18 and over cannot be made to work for more than 48 hours per week on average.