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  • Full-time employees work two and a half weeks more a year than the EU average

Workers in the UK are putting the longest hours in the EU, according to new TUC analysis published today (Wednesday).

Full-time employees in Britain worked an average of 42 hours a week in 2018, nearly two hours more than the EU average – equivalent to an extra two and a half weeks a year.

Britain’s “long-hours culture” is not having a positive impact on productivity, says the TUC. In similar economies to ours, workers are much more productive for each hour they work.

For example, full-time employees in Germany work 1.8 hours a week less than those in the UK but are 14.6% more productive. And in Denmark – the EU country with the shortest hours – workers put in over four hours less than UK workers, but productivity in Denmark is 23.5% higher.

The average full-time week in Britain has shortened by just 18 minutes over the past decade, nowhere near fast enough to close the gap with other countries. Even if the EU average stayed the same, at current rates of progress it would take 63 years for UK workers to get the same amount of free time as their European counterparts.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Britain’s long hours culture is nothing to be proud of.

“It’s robbing workers of a decent home life and time with their loved ones. Overwork, stress and exhaustion have become the new normal.

“It’s time for a change. Other countries have shown that reducing working hours isn’t only good for workers, it can boost productivity.

“As new technology changes our economy, the benefits should be shared by working people. That means shorter hours, more time with family and friends, and decent pay for everyone.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  • The TUC supports efforts to significantly reduce working time in the coming decades, including moves towards a typical fourday week.
  • We’re also calling for four additional bank holidays a year, curbs on unpaid overtime, and stronger rights to flexible working and parental leave.
  • We believe that government should actively enforce statutory paid annual leave, rest breaks and the right not to work more than 48 hours a week on average. These rights should be enforceable both by complaint to a government enforcement agency and by taking a case to Employment Tribunal.

Working time and productivity in mature EU economies

Country

Average full-time employee hours 2018

Hourly productivity 2018

Denmark

37.7

123.5

Netherlands

39.0

118.5

Italy

39.0

90.6

Belgium

39.0

122.7

France

39.1

115.0

Ireland

39.4

162.7

Sweden

39.9

117.2

EU-28 average

40.2

91.4

Germany

40.2

114.6

Austria

41.2

111.4

UK

42.0

100.0

Sources: Eurostat Database - full-time employee hours Q4 2018. OECD database GDP per hour worked 2018 expressed as an index (UK 100)

- The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 49 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.

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