Almost a fifth of employees in the UK are working for two hours longer than their contracted hours every day, a finance service reveals.
Based on the average hourly wage of £17.40 over a 260-day working year, that equates to a total of £9,048 being potentially earned by employees without being paid.
Further, more than half (51%) work over half an hour every day, with 15% feeling the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis have pushed them to prove their value in their job.
This view has caused a tenth to struggle to switch off from their role since the cost-of-living crisis started. So, habits such as checking online chats outside of working hours (16%), taking fewer breaks (12%), and starting the working day earlier (11%) have crept into workers’ routines.
Also, a quarter of the 2,000 respondents surveyed by Canada Life feel they’ve found their jobs more stressful since inflation and energy bills surged a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, a fifth (18%) also said the cost-of-living crisis has impacted their work/life balance, with a third (30%) expecting to work beyond the state pension age – which may yet rise to 71.
A recent study from The Exeter showed financial pressures have also changed the desire to have insurance, as a quarter of workers have cancelled a policy due to affordability concerns.
‘Always on’ attitude among employees working overtime
Dan Crook, director at Canada Life, said: “The ‘always on’ work culture we’ve adopted over the last few decades came to a head during the pandemic, as we set up home desks and new hybrid ways of working. But, while the novelty of being able to work from home has worn off, the ‘always on’ hangover remains.
“Working two hours overtime every day – possibly unpaid – is the equivalent of 520 hours annually for those in full-time roles, or £9,048 per year based on the average wage. And, while overtime is an occasional necessity in many jobs, well-rested employees are key to a productive working environment.”
Crook added: “Employers have an active role to play in encouraging – and enabling – their staff to take the time they need to rest and recover from illness and switch off entirely from the daily grind.
“Employer wellness programmes can help retain and foster a more collaborative and productive culture without fear of being ever-present.”
