Forty per cent of UK businesses are not rewarding their staff for overtime
Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – 24th February 2010
UK employees are working long hours and are not being rewarded for their extra commitment to the company, new research from business software and service provider Sage UK today revealed.
Ahead of ‘Work Your Proper Hours Day’ on February 26th, the Sage UK Omnibus surveyed 2,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) from Sage’s 790,000 strong UK customer base. It found that over fifty per cent (52%) of businesses questioned said their employees worked overtime, with forty per cent of those businesses not rewarding their staff for working over their contracted hours.
The challenging economic climate and significant unemployment figures has meant that there is mounting pressure on employees to work long hours. Competition for positions within firms is fierce and many employed people now feel the need to put in extra time to underline their commitment to the company. While some company’s may argue that this is a positive development for businesses, long hours and extra pressure at work has been cited as leading to employee stress and ill-health.
Brendan Flattery, MD of Sage’s Small Business Division said: “In the current economic climate many employees feel the need to work long hours, but it is important that people continue to strike the right work-life balance. By working smarter and utilising the productivity enhancing software and tools available, firms can really empower their employees. By embracing the appropriate tools, businesses will be able to maintain a more positive and more productive workforce that is not being over stretched and overworked.”
Work Your Proper Hours Day was created as one day in the year that employees should work their contracted hours and no more. Britain employees are regularly recogonised as working some of the longest hours in Europe. On average employees in Britain work a forty-four hour week compared with forty hours for the rest of Europe.
Subscribe to Start Your Business magazine NOW! - get 12 issues for £12 
