Excessive hours
The number of people working excessive hours has risen by 15% since 2010, according to new TUC analysis.
The number of employees working more than 48 hours a week has now reached 3,417,000 — up by 453,000 since 2010 — following more than a decade of decline in long hours working.
Regularly working more than 48 hours a week is linked to a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease, stress, mental illness, strokes and diabetes.
Those working long hours are still disproportionately men (2,544,000 men compared to 873,000 women in 2015). But the number of women working 48-hour plus weeks has increased by 18% since 2010, compared to a 15% increase in the number of men.
The TUC says that the government should reassess its negative view of the EU Working Time Directive, which has been brought into UK law and stipulates a 48-hour working week.
Many long-hours employees report that they feel pressured to “opt-out” from the 48-hour limit (individual opt-outs are currently allowed by law).
Despite a growing workforce, the existing working time rules have helped to reduce long hours from 3.9 million (17%) in spring 1998 to 3.3 million (13%) in 2007, and 3.0 million (12%) in 2010. But the number has since increased and is back to 3.4 million (13%).
There is now a strong sense that the existing rules are too weak to beat the long-hours culture, leaving too many people stuck in “Burnout Britain”.