Employees put in longer hours on jobs since 2008 recession: Survey

Employees are putting in longer hours on their job than five years ago as 67 per cent of employees said they are spending ‘a great deal’ more hours at work, since the recession began in 2008, says a global survey.

According to a poll by Right Management, the talent and career management experts within ManpowerGroup, nearly four out of five surveyed workers said their organisation’s employees spend more time on the job since the recession began in 2008.

As many as 67 per cent of people who were surveyed said they are spending ‘a great deal’ more hours at work compared to 2008, while 10 per cent of the workforce said there working hours have increased ‘somewhat’ in the period under consideration.

Meanwhile, only 23 per cent said that employees in their organisation are “not really” spending work longer hours than five years ago.

Moreover, recent polls by Right Management have also identified the growing pressure on workers today.

“The data shows they rarely leave their desk for lunch.

They respond to emails from the boss at all hours. They are not taking all their vacation time. And when others are laid off, the work they did must be shared by the remaining employees,” Right Management said.

“There are times when deadlines or projects command longer hours;” Right Management’s northeast region General Manager Matt Norquist said adding that “leaders need to connect the intensity of workloads with dialogue that aligns the work with individual employees’ ambitions, and the organisations’ broader strategic objectives.”

The online poll of 325 employees was conducted between August 16 and September 15.

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