Stressed Welsh staff work a six day week to keep their jobs (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Stressed Welsh staff work a six day week to keep their jobs

9:10am Wednesday 1st July 2009

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Stressed staff in Wales are often working the equivalent of a sixday-week as the recession takes its toll, according to new research from BT Business.

More than four out of 10 Wales’ employees (48 per cent) have been working more than their contracted hours since the financial crisis began – with more than seven extra hours per week being typical, the equivalent of an additional day.

More than a third (38 per cent) feel more stressed and nearly one in five (18 per cent) say the extra hours are having a negative impact on their relationship with their partner and that their health is deteriorating.

The problems are worsened by staff often not being equipped with the right tools to do the job.

Four in 10 in Wales (40 per cent) reported time being wasted by poor technology and systems.

The BT report reveals that the tougher working conditions could have a longer-term cost for businesses.

A third of Welsh workers (33 per cent) say they will look for a new job when it looks like the recession is ending Across the UK, British workers are collectively putting £200m in extra hours into the British economy each week.

Nationally, 37 per cent of the 4000 BT Business survey respondents reported growing workloads. Colleagues being made redundant (41 per cent) and a renewed focus by companies on improving customer service (35 per cent) were cited as the top two reasons for this.

Bill Murphy, managing director for BT Business, said: “These findings reflect the length to which employees are willing to go to keep Britain’s economy afloat.

“Employers should look to match these efforts by equipping staff with what they need to become more efficient.

“Financial incentives may not be an option, but companies should consider how working practices can eliminate wasted time and boost productivity. Using technology to support practices such as flexible working can help companies strip out the fat as well as helping their staff become more efficient with a better work life balance.”

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