Research conducted by PageGroup among over 1,000 UK office workers (+18)* - found that a large majority (89%) of working Brits typically work up to 10 hours over their contracted hours per week. Additional research among 1,000 UK office workers (+18)** revealed that 45% of respondents’ partners regularly work late or bring work home with them, questioning whether the ‘always on’ approach to work can cause unwanted tension in our personal relationships. Long hours and less time spent at home isn’t the only problem. 51% of people surveyed admitted that having access to work emails at home impacts negatively on the quality of their relationship, with 58% admitting they have been told to move jobs by their current partner.Commenting on these findings, Oliver Watson, Executive Board Director for UK and North America at PageGroup, said: “With more businesses offering flexible working solutions to their employees, sacrificing your work-life balance is no longer an obligation to progress your career.“The ones closest to us will experience what we bring home from the office on a daily basis, so naturally if your job is causing you to spend too much time away from home, there is a chance this will create tension at the end of a working day. “When you make a plan towards achieving your career goals, it’s important to think about what your priorities are - whether that’s more money, greater responsibilities at work, or simply a better work-life balance.”
