date: Tuesday 29 January 2001 embargo: 00:01h Monday 4 February 2002

Attention: industrial, political & social affairs correspondents, planning desks

one in six UK workers put in more than 48 hours a week

Despite Europe’s working time directive, more people are working in excess of its 48-hours-a-week limit than they were ten years ago, with managers and professionals topping the long hours league. But with legal changes due that will make the 48 hour limit much tougher, the TUC warns that businesses must learn to organise their work more efficiently so that staff can 'work smart' and be more productive within shorter hours.

Nearly 4 million employees (16%) are now working more than 48 hours a week - 350,000 more than in 1992 - according to a TUC report published today (Mon 4), ahead of a major conference tomorrow (Tues 5) on how to tackle the long hours culture. Most are men, with one in four now working more than 48 hours, despite the evidence that working very long hours is bad for people’s health which led to the European Union to introduce the working time directive that became law in the UK in 1998.

One in ten men work even longer hours. Nearly one and a quarter million work more than 55 hours a week - almost a seven day week of normal eight hour days. One in 25 men (4%) work more than 60 hours.

The UK tops the European long hours league, and is the only country that allows staff to opt out of the 48 hour limit. The average working week is 43.6 hours in the UK compared to an EU average of 40.3 hours. Many European countries, including those more productive than the UK, have tougher limits on hours. Austria, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Spain and Sweden all have 39 or 40 hour limits, and France has a 35 hour week. But the EU is certain to end the UK opt out following a review in 2003, so the UK must start to tackle the long hours culture now, says the TUC report.

There is a class divide in working hours. The TUC report, About Time: a new agenda for shaping working life, finds that over half of all managerial and professional employees working extra hours say that they are doing so to deal with excessive workloads, while around 70% of skilled and manual employees say that they are earning overtime pay. Managerial and professional employees are the most likely to be working long hours - 2.25million of them are working in excess of 48 hours. Over two fifths (41%) of men in management jobs are working more than 48 hours compared with the national average for all employees of 16%.

TUC General Secretary John Monks said:

'Britain’s long hours culture is a national disgrace. It leads to stress, ill health and family strains. But even worse it’s an indictment on how badly we manage work in the UK. Half the country is caught in a vicious circle of low pay, low productivity and long hours, with the other half trapped in their offices and battling ever growing in-trays. Other countries produce more, earn more and work far shorter hours. We should, and can, do the same, if employers, unions and government work together.'

London tops long hours league

561,000 Londoners (19%) work more than 48 hours a week. In London, 44% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while just 6% want to work for longer.

315,000 workers in the East Midlands (18%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the East Midlands, 37% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while just 7% want to work for longer.

632,000 workers in the South East (17%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the South East, 44% of employees want to work less hours. Eleven per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while just 7% want to work for longer.

400,000 workers in the East of England (17%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the East of England, 42% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while just 6% want to work for longer.

324,000 workers in the South West (16%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the South West, 42% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while 9% want to work for longer.

355,000 workers in the West Midlands (16%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the West Midlands, 43% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while 8% want to work for longer.

318,000 workers in Yorkshire and Humberside (15%) do more than 48 hours a week. In Yorkshire and Humberside, 42% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while 8% want to work for longer.

138,000 workers in the North East (14%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the North East, 40% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while another 10% want to work for longer.

304,000 workers in Scotland (14%) do more than 48 hours a week. In Scotland, 39% of employees want to work less hours. Nine per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while 10% want to work for longer.

148,000 workers in Wales (13%) do more than 48 hours a week. In Wales, 37% of employees want to work less hours. Eight per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while 9% want to work for longer.

373,000 workers in the North West (13%) do more than 48 hours a week. In the North West, 43% of employees want to work less hours. Ten per cent said they would rather work less hours for less pay, while just 7% want to work for longer.

Notes to Editors:

A series of TUC rights leaflets, including advice on working time and holidays, are available on our website and from the know your rights line 0870 600 4 882. Lines are open every day from 8am-10pm. Calls are charged at the national rate.

A ll TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk. Info on the TUC’s work-life balance work can be found at www.tuc.org.uk/changingtimes

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Contacts:

Media enquiries: 020 7467 1248 or email media@tuc.org.uk

Other enquiries: Paul Sellers 020 7 467 1302 or email psellers@tuc.org.uk

Press release (1,200 words) issued 4 Feb 2002