UK workers trapped by long-hours culture

UK
employees are still trapped in a long-hours culture despite being among the
most mobile in Europe.

New
research from delivery firm UPS shows that despite the large number of
homeworkers and ‘hotdeskers’ in the UK, almost half (47 per cent) now spend more
time at work than they did five years ago.

According
to the poll, the UK still lags behind the rest of Europe with the lowest amount
of staff on flexible hours with only 48 per cent of firms allowing employees to
take this option.

Around
98 per cent of German companies and 81 per cent of firms in Belgium offer staff
flexitime, although a further 28 per cent of UK directors expect to provide it
by 2008.

The
survey of 1,453 business leaders from around Europe shows that childcare will
be a major issue for UK companies, with just 12 per cent currently offering any
provisions.

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A
further 33 per cent of UK directors said childcare would be more prevalent by
2008.

By Ross Wigham