A survey of 5,000 adults by recruitment firm Reed also found that a similar number said they feel under pressure in their job
Two out of five people are working an average of seven hours a week in unpaid overtime, according to new research.
A survey by recruitment firm Reed, which took the opinions of 5,000 adults, also highlighted that many feel the pressure mounting at work. Reed said its findings show a four-day working week has become an “impossible dream” for British workers, with many reporting that their workload is pushing them closer to working six days a week.
Those who are putting in the extra time claim it’s due to the demands of their job roles and responsibilities or the need to meet tight deadlines.
Ian Nicholas, global managing director at Reed, commented on the current employment market: “We know that the employment market is tight at the moment, with figures showing that more than nine million people in the UK are economically inactive. This means that for every three working-age adults in employment, one is inactive.”
He added, “It’s may be not surprising, therefore, that many workers feel they need to pick up the slack or feel they are working extra hours to account for the lack of workers within the market at the moment.”
Nicholas also pointed out the additional pressures businesses face: “Adding fuel to the fire, we continue to see businesses struggling to meet rising costs and taxes. ” He suggested that the extra hours could be workers’ attempts to demonstrate their value to avoid redundancy amid business cutbacks, or simply striving to keep operations running while companies struggle financially.
The study indicated that less than a third of those working beyond their contracted hours were receiving overtime pay.