Overtime affecting staff’s health and wellbeing
December 2009
New research by management consultancy, Hay Group, has revealed that many staff are working longer hours to help their employer through the recession, but many feel that overworking is affecting their health and are concerned that current levels are unsustainable.
The report – ‘The Loyalty Deficit’ – also suggests that some employers have broken an unwritten ‘contract’ with staff, jeopardising staff loyalty and commitment in the future.
The study of 1,000 frontline employees revealed that two-thirds (65%) of employees are currently working over and above contracted hours and over a third (36%) have increased the amount of overtime they put in over the past 12 months. The average amount of unpaid overtime workers are currently clocking up is six hours per week.
The majority (85%) of those working unpaid overtime are committed to helping their organisation survive the recession, while 84% say that people in their team are willing to go beyond their normal responsibilities to help each other out.
However, half (50%) of these employees warn that this level of work is unsustainable. Seven out of ten (70%) claim that overwork is having a negative impact on their relationships and family life, whilst 76% say that it is affecting their general health and wellbeing.
The report – ‘The Loyalty Deficit’ – also suggests that some employers have broken an unwritten ‘contract’ with staff, jeopardising staff loyalty and commitment in the future.
The study of 1,000 frontline employees revealed that two-thirds (65%) of employees are currently working over and above contracted hours and over a third (36%) have increased the amount of overtime they put in over the past 12 months. The average amount of unpaid overtime workers are currently clocking up is six hours per week.
The majority (85%) of those working unpaid overtime are committed to helping their organisation survive the recession, while 84% say that people in their team are willing to go beyond their normal responsibilities to help each other out.
However, half (50%) of these employees warn that this level of work is unsustainable. Seven out of ten (70%) claim that overwork is having a negative impact on their relationships and family life, whilst 76% say that it is affecting their general health and wellbeing.