Six in ten managers feel pressured to work additional extra hours, research shows.
Research from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) found that 94% of managers work over their contracted hours each week, and the majority (65%) feeling pressure from their organisation to do so.
And 44% of managers felt “direct pressure” from employers to complete additional hours for free.
More than half (53%) of the 1,000 survey respondents reported that excessive workloads are the most common reason for working extended hours.
Forty seven per cent of employees clocked an additional 7.5 hours or more, with 13% working two days extra on a weekly basis.
Charles Elvin, chief executive at the ILM said: “When you add up all the skipped lunch breaks, early morning conference calls and after hours emails you see just how widespread the extra hours culture is within UK business.
“Of course, all organisations face busy periods when employees will feel motivated to work above and beyond their contractual hours.
“But excessive hours are not sustainable – there are only so many times you can burn the midnight oil before your performance, decision making and well-being begin to suffer.”
