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Working hours see decade high

By Lucy Hutchings on Friday 6 June 2008

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Marie Claire news: Career woman

More Britons than ever are working over 48-hours a week, leading to higher levels of stress and less personal time.

Working hours continue to increase, with figures showing 3.3 million workers putting in over 48-hours per week.

The figures from the Trades Union Congress, point to a high increase over the last year, after a period of decline in working hours over the past decade.

Hardest hit were male employees in the East of England and London, within the construction, finance, retail, motor trade and public administration industries.

The TUC is now calling on the government to support an initiative to tackle average working hours.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the TUC, commented, 'After slow but steady progress over the last decade, long hours working is making its way back into Britain's work places.'

She added, 'Employees across Britain already work the longest hours in western Europe. The recent increase will mean lower productivity, more stress and less time to have a life outside the office with friends and family.'

Friday 6 June 2008

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I agree, having recently set up my own consultancy to offer pay as you go wellness services - As a psychotherapist by discipline, I am seeing more and more individual cases seeking support. As a working mother of four myself, finding work life balance in supporting a range of clients plus juggling my own business proves a daily challenge. Working hours need to reduce and holidays should be longer - we ought to take a leaf out of the Swedish book -they seem to do fine!
Comment by Susan Montgomery on June 10 08:33