Long working hours

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the news that new research suggests nearly nine out of ten managers are working longer than their contracted hours.

The survey by the Chartered Management Institute says that managers are working an average of 1 hour and 18 minutes a day longer than stipulated in their contract, despite efforts in recent years by unions and other organisations to reduce working hours.

Stakeholder response: Chartered Management Institute

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Jo Causon, director of marketing and corporate affairs, says: "Many organisations focus on the cost of absence to their organisations, yet are not addressing the root causes of absenteeism. Surely, in today's results-driven environment, output is more important than input, so two questions need to be answered; why are employers ignoring the impact of long hours on the health and performance of their employees and what responsibility are employees taking for how they manage themselves?"

"The perpetual cycle of taking out costs in recent years has meant that most organisations are driven to use their assets – particularly their people – more intensively.  Yet it is clearly having a negative effect and will create longer-term problems for organisations unless the UK's long hours culture is kept in check."

Stakeholder response: Business in the Community

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Louise Aston, director of Business Action on Health said: "Pressure to work long hours is one of many factors affecting the health and wellbeing of our workforce today. This survey by the Chartered Management Institute is yet more evidence that employers are not seriously reporting on and addressing these issues.

"Business Action on Health, set up by Business In The Community and some of its member companies, is committed to raising the measuring and reporting of employee health among FTSE 100 companies from the current rate of 7 per cent to 75 per cent by 2011."