34% too tired from work to enjoy life outside of it

Over a third (34%) of respondents are too tired to enjoy life outside of work as a result of their job, according to research by communications consultancy Lansons.

Its Britain at work report, which is based on two surveys conducted by Opinium with 2,003 and 2,008 UK employees, found that this dropped to 27% among those aged 55 and over.

There is little difference between the genders, with 34% of female respondents and 33% of male respondents reporting that their work means they are too tired to enjoy their free time.

The research also found:

Health and wellbeing

• 28% of respondents work one to two hours past their set working time each day, while 50% put in average overtime of one hour or less.
• Those in the education industry are most likely to work past their standard daily working hours, with 19% of respondents in the sector always working beyond their set hours.
• 1.36 hours is the average length of time that London-based respondents who work past their set hours put in.
• Around half (51%) of those working for large organisations say their employer is supportive of staff coping with mental health issues.
• 61% of respondents at large organisations say their employer is supportive of those with physical disabilities.

Reward and recognition

• Almost half (47%) of respondents say they feel valued at work, while 52% say they feel respected.
• 55% received a pay rise over the last 12 months and 34% received a bonus.
• Less than half (44%) of respondents think they are paid fairly.

Employee attitudes towards their organisation

• Less than half (48%) of respondents are proud of where they work.
• 34% say they do not feel a great sense of loyalty to the organisation they work for.
• Just one in ten (10%) of respondents are very likely to recommend their employer to others.
• 39% say they would leave their organisation tomorrow if they had another job to go to.

Scott McKenzie (pictured), director of change and employee engagement at Lansons, said: “We are still working very long hours, giving away almost a whole working day per week. And yet our productivity does not match up to that additional time we’re spending at work. 

“There is surely a virtuous circle in taking steps to improve the work-life balance of UK workers, while at the same time ensuring a sustainable and more productive working environment.

“We would strongly recommend that UK employers take the necessary steps to ensure there is an open dialogue to ensure that problems can be addressed before they reach boiling point.”